Lisa shows her love with a cross-Channel swimming challenge

08 Dec 2020

The courage of a grandad facing cancer for the second time has inspired his daughter to tackle a titanic fundraising challenge.

Kevin Firth, of Kirkbymoorside, was originally treated three years ago and his family hoped he was in the clear, but tests last October showed his cancer had returned. He remained well for a year but is now undergoing chemotherapy.

Kevin’s daughter Lisa Fennell wanted to show her love by taking on the equivalent of a cross-Channel swim for him and York Against Cancer after the charity gave him two seaside respite breaks.

“Dad is absolutely amazing, so positive and with such a great sense of humour,” said Lisa, a midwife at York Hospital. “He had taken advantage of the Filey and Whitby properties – the Bay was so lovely and Whitby had that fantastic view. It was family time and it was such a treat.

“With him getting a bit more poorly, I wanted a challenge – it’s therapy for me, and York Against Cancer are an amazing charity so I decided to raise money for them.”

Lisa had run a marathon in the past, before she became a mum, so she wanted something to test her mettle and she decided to try to swim the cross-Channel distance over 12 weeks.

She’s been putting in 50 lengths, three times a week, at Roko gym, and she had clocked up five of her 12 weeks before the second lockdown began. Her Dad is following her progress with excitement.

“He is really chuffed,” said Lisa, who’s already raised £700, seven times her original target, through a JustGiving page.

“It’s nice for Dad to read all the little messages and it is a boost for him,” she said.

• You can add a message yourself,  and support Lisa’s efforts here: https://bit.ly/38c3Oc3.