STATUE OF LIBERTY
SWIM EVENT
With Team Velindre
FUNDRAISING
This is personal. We’ve all seen cancer’s impact at Velindre. We know the system is failing too many people in Wales and we’re determined to change that.
These events are fully self-funded. Every penny raised goes to Velindre. No excuses. No shortcuts. Just miles in the water for a cause that matters.
We have set ourselves a fundraising target of £11,400. Join us in giving back to those that need it.
GOAL:
Raising £11,600 for Velindre Cancer foundation.
The 150 mile event from London to Cardiff and The Statue of Liberty event are not separate. we are preparing, sharing and participating in these events to aim to meet the grand goal of raising £11,600 for Velindre Cancer foundation
In this last year something heartbreaking happened,
My Aunty Ren, still vibrant, still full of life at 76 was diagnosed with cancer again. This time, it was stage 4.
At the time, I was preparing to take on the Alcatraz swim with Team Velindre. The irony wasn’t lost on me. The same place that had once given us hope all those years ago was once again at the centre of our lives. Velindre became that place of hope again.
I spent much of that summer by her side. And in October 2025, we she passed.
A loss I am still processing.
Through it all, the Velindre fundraising community has been there - steady, supportive, understanding in a way that’s hard to put into words. The teams ability to love and support in the most vulnerable times is extremely precious. I feel passionate to steady the mind in the water and keep supporting for those that need it.
And what comes next will test everything (150 mile swim and the Statue of Liberty event)
THE EVENT:
With Team Velindre, I’ll head to New York to take on two iconic open water swims: 1 mile and 2.2 miles, around the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Island.
There will be cold waters and Strong tides.
These are epic challenges. Demanding, unforgiving, and real.
But that’s the point...
We are doing this for the people who can’t. For those still fighting. For those we’ve lost. for those who we can still support.
OUR TEAM
We have recently formed team Splash Dragons
Taniya Morris, Fiona Coombes, and Karen Davies - are proud Brecon locals who have lived and worked in the area for many years. Together, we bring a wealth of experience: Taniya from a distinguished military career, Fiona as a retired deputy headteacher, and Karen as a former detective. What unites us is a shared passion for open water swimming and a deep connection to the rivers, lakes, and seas that shape our lives.
As a team we have innate drive to support those in need, to encourage connection and do what we can to bring community together.
