Nikki’s 50 mile fundraising swim sees her up for national award
Swimmer Nikki Hambling who has swum 50-miles doing solely the butterfly. Picture: Everyone Active - Credit: Everyone Active
A swimmer will be a finalist at this year's Swim England National Awards after raising more than £1,000 over by swimming 50-miles butterfly.
Swimmer Nikki Hambling who has swum 50-miles doing solely the butterfly. Picture: Everyone Active - Credit: Everyone Active
Nikki Hambling set herself the target back in 2017 to celebrate her 50th birthday and used the challenge to raise £1,247 for a number of charities, inspired by family, friends and work colleagues.
Amongst them was her childhood swimming coach, John Moore, who took the time to work with her to improve her butterfly stroke, which culminated with her eventually breaking the club record.
Also inspiring Nikki's swim challenge was Rachel Edwards and Hayley Adams, who Nikki taught when they were younger and then later as work colleagues.
They both sadly passed away in 2017, but were very supportive of her swim and since breaking the club record, some of the regular swimmers at the Stradbroke Swim and Fitness Centre have been inspired to try and swim butterfly as a result.
Swimmer Nikki Hambling who has swum 50-miles doing solely the butterfly. Picture: Everyone Active - Credit: Everyone Active
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Staff at the centre nominated Nikki for an award at the Swim England Awards and she will now be in contention to win the Swim England Adult Achievement Award in November.
'I am really pleased to be nominated for the award,' she said. 'It was a lovely surprise and I have been overwhelmed with all the support I have received during the swim.
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'I love to swim butterfly and I'm pleased that I could use a personal challenge to raise money for the charities. I was surprised by how it inspired other swimmers too. I must be slightly mad, but my shoulders are now much stronger than I realised!'
Stuart Murdy, general manager at the Stradbroke Swim and Fitness Centre, said: 'Everyone at Stradbroke Swim and Fitness Centre is so pleased that Nikki's massive achievement has been recognised on a national level.
Swimmer Nikki Hambling who has swum 50-miles doing solely the butterfly. Picture: Everyone Active - Credit: Everyone Active
'When Nikki came to me and told me her idea I thought she was mad, to swim that distance all butterfly in a year, either her will power would give in or her shoulders would, but she proved me wrong.'
You can contribute to Nikki's fund raising efforts by visiting her Just Giving page: justgiving.com/fundraising/nikki-hambling5.
