Meningitis Trust And Maggie’s To Benefit From Elaine’s Sea Swim

By Suzanne Rutter

A fundraiser from a leading law firm will be going the extra mile for charity when she takes part in two daring open water swimming challenges.

Elaine Russell, a partner in the Personal Injury team at Irwin Mitchell’s Glasgow office, will be taking the plunge at Elie Bay in Fife for the 'Meningitis Trust Big Swim' on 3 August 2013 followed by the Great Scottish Swim at Loch Lomond on 24 August 2013 for the Glasgow office charity of the year, Maggie’s Cancer Care. The charity runs support centres at Gartnavel Hospital and the Western Infirmary in Glasgow for people battling cancer, or those who have lost loved ones to the disease.

Elaine has already thrown herself in at the deep end to practice for the one-mile challenges by training in the chilly waters of Loch Lomond and at Troon on the west coast as well as swimming three times a week at her local pool.

She said: “Both charities are close to all our hearts at Irwin Mitchell because they do such fantastic work for people who have suffered meningitis and cancer. The charities rely heavily on donations and grants so I hope my fundraising efforts will help them continue their life-changing work.

“I’ve always been a keen swimmer but I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m really nervous but excited.  I think the main challenges will be completing the distances in the cold, choppy waters at Elie Bay and Loch Lomond, which are incredibly different to swimming at my local pool.

“The Great Scottish Swim for Maggie’s is the biggest open water swimming event in Scotland and I’ll be one of about 2,000 people taking part, setting off in waves of about 300, so it should be a great atmosphere with plenty of other fundraisers who all want to challenge themselves and do their bit for charity. I hope to raise as much money as possible.”

The Big Swim for the Meningitis Trust will take place at Elie Bay this weekend with more than 70 people expected to participate.

Elaine will be taking part in the challenge alongside her friend and colleague Leslie Wallace, an occupational therapist at the Queen Elizabeth Spinal Unit in Glasgow.

The Great Scottish Swim also challenges fundraisers to swim between half a mile and two miles in Loch Lomond and swimmers of all abilities are welcome.

To sponsor Elaine visit www.justgiving.com/elainerussellswim and http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com