Andrew’s challenge # 2 – John Rae Society Our President's New Year Challenge
It’s a Happy New Year for me! I did 222 more strokes in my sponsored swim of 6,700 strokes, representing a stroke per mile that John Rae sailed in his Arctic expeditions.
It's a very cold and wet 1st. January so I limited my swim. I had hoped for 333 strokes. Ah well, it just means that I have the pleasure of extra swimming to catch up.
I must say that these wild aquatics are very good for me! A few years ago I had seriously arthritic knees and hobbled with two sticks. It was mooted by the NHS that I should have replacements… Not sticks but kneecaps. I was invited to go swimming whilst on Westray. I agreed. The February snow blew past horizontally as we got ready. I took the plunge and did 111 strokes. It was bitterly chilly, but the sheer cold increased my blood supply: My skin glowed and I felt good. The next day, on a walk, I only needed one stick. I swam again and the following day the other one wasn’t needed. I kept up the swimming as often as I could. After a few weeks I cancelled all appointments for treatment. My X rays showed remarkable recovery!
Every time I swim in the ocean I feel good after.
This is why I enjoy this challenge so much. Please do sponsor me and help The John Rae Society as well.
Thanks and a happy New Year to you too.
Andrew Appleby
#JRSchallenge
https://www.johnraesociety.com/andrews-challenge-2/ ... See more
Starting a challenge is far more of a challenge than actually doing it! This is what I found when I wild swam a stroke for each of the 3,645 miles that John Rae trekked during his now increasingly famous Arctic Expeditions. ... See more
