Beth’s Breakwater swim for St Luke’s

In memory of Dad

“Sea swimming was a particular comfort to me in Dad’s last week,” Beth says, “and it was something we often talked about when I visited him. He always encouraged and took great delight in my love of the sea, so it will be a wonderful way to honour him – swimming back to the shore of Mount Batten where he spent his last days.”

Beth and her friends were treated to blue skies as they completed the 3.2km swim from Plymouth breakwater to Mount Batten on Sunday, raising over £1,500 for St Luke’s.

Beth, a PhD student in Marine Biology, has always loved the ocean, growing up with her mum and dad and two brothers in Tavistock, her childhood was filled with coastal walks and trips to the beach, memories with her father that she has always held on to.

“My dad was an incredibly patient and kind man, who had a deep faith in Christianity. He was an incredibly hard worker in both his professions and role as a father. He would do anything for his children, even driving over 8 hours to see me and my brother at university twice a year. Dad was always passionate about my chosen career of marine biology and did everything he could to help me on my way. I have many happy and special memories of my dad, mostly involving long coastal or Dartmoor walks talking about life and faith and admiring the views.”

Beth, Ellie and Ellen regularly swim on their lunch break and decided that they wanted to complete the swim and fundraise for St Luke’s as a way of saying thank you for the care Beth’s dad and her family received.