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The Diabetes UK Swimmers, The DUKS
My thanks to you all for making The DUKS English Channel Relay 2008 challenge a very memorable experience. We achieved our aim to get both teams across The Channel and get home safely afterwards.
I can only write about my experience with the non-normal team, The Hypos. Five girls and one guy was going to make it a challenging day for me.
The fact that Observer Megan Forbes (successful solo swimmer 2007 in 14 hours 27 minutes) and Nurse Elin (successful 2-person Atlantic row in 77 days) were en board did not put the swimmers under pressure!
The elements of doubt and trepidation soon disappeared when Georgie took to the waters and swam like a dream, her first time in the Channel proper and that at night. Christine swam at Number 2 without hesitation and too just casually but purposefully stroked her way for the hour.
Kathryn looked gracious as she swam and Sally looked gracious and elegant. And this after Sally managed only a quarter of an hour in Dover harbour when we first met. I did want to stay in the water all the way to France during my first stint as it was the safest place to be.
Rob, I did miss you there! I needed that bloke moral support. Kathyrn had Dell Derek make her tea. That was setting the trend for the all-women take over of the boat. There were ladies everywhere, in various stages of dress and undress. I did not dare look anywhere but to the horizon.
The second round of swims was easier for all. Daylight showed a smooth sea and the positions of the other pilot boats scattered all around us. We missed The Cap but Mike O guided us ashore near Wissant.
There was a serious discussion amongst the female swimmers to make the team swim to the shore naked! Again Rob, I was still looking out to the horizon as this was being planned and had nothing to do with it.
The sun was shining and the beach looked idyllic for a bunch of frolicking nude women. I had to, just had to, turn my head slightly and mention to them that this was a charity event, the Diabetes UK banners were proudly on display to the fore of "Gallivant" and that perhaps the charity might not sanction this type of activity. But personally I reckoned this would have been one way to have generated a lot of public interest, I had visions of the photo on the front page of the French newspapers. Gratefully they didn't swim starkers. The swim ashore was the highlight of the swim, a great comaraderie and spirit.
To Emily, a big thank you to you for a wonderful experience. I think you showed a wonderful spirit and determination to make the event happen. Rob, thanks for your guidance and I am sorry that you couldn't be en board.
To you all, I hope this challenge has encouraged you to recognise that diabetes didn't effect anyone in this swim and that we showed were we all able to regulate and control our sugar levels and partake safely and without risks. Every best wish for the future.
Stephen
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