A group of courageous women – taking on the team name ‘the Matriarsea’ – have swum the English Channel to raise money for Planet Patrol and other water protection causes.
Laura and Brigitte Suggitt, along with friends Chloe, Briony, Emily and Sian, swam an incredible 35 miles from Dover to the French coast, taking a total of 12 hours and 49 minutes.
The swim commemorated 10 years since the death of Laura’s brother and Brigitte’s son, Henry, who passed away just before starting a Marine Biology degree at Bangor University. Brigitte said, “the environment and its welfare were hugely important to him”, so the team chose Planet Patrol, Surfers Against Sewage, and Project Seagrass as their fundraising beneficiaries, raising over £6,000 which has been split between the causes.
Laura recalls the highs and lows of the Matriarsea challenge: “The first 5 hours were gruelling. Seriously nauseating conditions on the boat, and 4ft swell in the water, swimming in the middle of the Channel in the pitch black. I’ll be honest, we were all terrified, but we dug deep.
“Then came the really aggressive switch of tide at sunrise. I had to swim the hardest I ever have to salvage our crossing or we’d be pushed into a freight lane. That’s not to mention jellyfish the size of dinner plates, no sleep, the stench of diesel, sewage slicks, and buckets of seawater swallowed.
“There were many reasons we shouldn’t have made it, but we did. It has long been a dream for me to cross the channel and reaching France in the sparkling sunshine with the strong women in my team around me was magical! I am so proud of the team, and it is such a privilege to be their captain.”
Klara Wertheim, Head of Programmes & Campaigns at Planet Patrol, said, “We could not be more impressed by the Matriarsea team, who took on an incredibly gruelling challenge that few people would be able to complete! Laura, Brigitte and the team have done their supporters proud, and honoured Henry’s memory in a truly special way. To the swimmers – we’re so grateful that you chose Planet Patrol to receive some of your fundraising – this money will help us tackle water pollution across the UK and beyond over the next year.”
To read more, or to support the team, visit their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thematriarsea