Vascular Nurse Splashes for Cash!

Congratulations to vascular nurse Wendy Russell, for raising hundreds of pounds for the Circulation Foundation at the Great East Swim.

The Ipswich Hospital nurse was one of thousands of participants to don a wetsuit for the British Gas Great East Swim on Saturday the 11th June. The annual event was staged in the beautiful clean waters of Alton Water reservoir, near Ipswich.

Wendy completed the one-mile swim in front of some 12,000 spectators, while raising some much needed funds for the Circulation Foundation - Well done Wendy!

"My timing would have been better if I hadn't stopped to talk and hug a lifeguard (who I knew) when I got out of the water; I forgot I was on a timer! I Did the swim in 41 minutes, but wasn't worried about the time though as I did the swim for such a good cause!"

Some of the world's greatest open water swimmers went head-to-head on the day too.  Nine-time world champion Thomas Lurz of Germany won the elite men’s race after scorching to victory in the first Great Swim of the year at Salford Quays in Manchester.  German swimmer Isabelle Haerle narrowly beat Britain’s Cassie Patten to secure victory in a tough elite women’s field.

The event was the second of five open water swims taking place across the country.

Don't forget to check out the Great Swim Facebook page for all the latest event news and information.