A dip everyday!

If you happen to be strolling along Farm Beach this August you may just spot a young girl in the sea swimming with purpose along the coastline. In fact, the chances you'll see her are high as 11-year-old Wiktoria Wypyszynska is taking a dip everyday this month to raise money for Macmillan.

When I meet her and her Mum Magda, it is a rather foggy Tuesday morning and (whilst I do love a sea swim) it is not a particularly appealing August day. This doesn't stop Wiktoria though!

Despite the weather that has been thrown at us so far this month, nothing can stop her from getting in the sea. Aiming for at least 10 minutes of non-stop swimming each dip, she does a length along the beach and back and has already braved rain, fog and two storms! In fact, rather ironically, she even swam during Storm Anthony - with her younger brother Antoni watching on.

But where did the idea come from you ask?

On 31st July Wiktoria turned to her Mum and said that she'd like to do something different this summer and swim everyday in August for charity. As so many are affected by cancer, Wiktoria felt strongly that Macmillan should be her chosen recipient. Taken aback, Magda was ever encouraging (despite her own distaste for the sea!) and got to work on creating the budding swimmer an online page and fundraising platform. After beavering away all evening, the pair were ready for the first day of the challenge and they haven't stopped since.

Wiktoria jumps in the sea and Magda is never far behind her, snapping photos from the shore to post on her justgiving page.

When I ask Wiktoria why she likes swimming, she puts it rather neatly. "Swimming feels good! It gets your body moving but in a different way to other exercise like running or cycling; moving through the water is amazing and you feel energised every time you get out."

Our chat on the FBC slip is brief as Wiktoria is obviously itching to get into the sea; it is clear that she is a natural - she just seems so at home in the water.

Wiktoria wants to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan, and has already reached her initial goal of £500. But by no means does that mean she'll stop swimming! Do look out for her over the rest of August and be sure to cheer her on from the shore...