Audrey Hellen "Touch the Jetty "

Audrey Hellen "Touch the Jetty"

By Karen Quartermain

September 28, 2021

On Tuesday 28th September, we had the absolute pleasure of supporting the remarkable Audrey Hellen. No stranger to a guided swim with Uswim Adventure, Audrey had come to well and truly put this swim—and a lot more—to bed once and for all. Audrey has spent several years getting back up after being knocked down, and this swim meant much more than just touching a jetty. It was a humongous goodbye to cancer and so much more besides.

We wanted blue skies and zero wind; instead, we got torrential downpours and a crosswind. However, Audrey had followed a training plan written by Uswim Adventure, and it showed. She was strong and super focused. Audrey never let the bouncing rain or the pushing breeze interrupt her stroke or her mindset. In all fairness, there may have been a little "head wobble" at hour three, but there was absolutely no doubt that jetty was going to get more than a touch.

The support from the swimming community, her family, and her friends was awesome as usual. With a mile to go, we let her know: "This is your last feed." It is fair to say Audrey was super surprised to realize she was about to finish.

For the last mile, a swim buddy joined her, and the final slog to the jetty was truly emotional. She didn't just touch the jetty; she whacked the heck out of it! Met by another swim buddy, Katy (who had swum the length the day before), the ending was a very wet and joyous one.

We hugged, we cried, and Audrey Hellen stood up in absolute disbelief and relief 9 hours and 5 minutes after starting. What a swim, and what a superwoman.