Lola learns to swim to raise funds

4 JUNE 2024

NHS worker Lola Shopeju has had an incredibly challenging two years.

She has moved to the UK, completed her master’s degree, started a career as a Project Support Officer at York Hospital and in addition to that, she has learnt to swim.

However next week Lola sets off on her biggest adventure yet as she takes part in The Great North Swim to raise money for York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity. Lola plans to raise over £500 by swimming the half-mile course in Lake Windermere. The event is a weekend-long celebration of open-water swimming. Lola’s achievement is amazing considering two years ago she had never been in open water.

“I have a photograph of myself on my seventh birthday with my feet in water, it was a very memorable event for me. I have always wanted to swim; when I moved to York there was a swimming pool just 10 minutes away from me, so it seemed perfect timing,” Lola explained.

“I am looking forward to the challenge, but the water is quite cold, I will have to wear a wet suit and warm swim socks, it’s going to be different than my training pool and my greatest challenge is swimming breaststroke in a wet suit, which I’m finding quite difficult.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it stays warm at Lake Windermere, it is currently 17 degrees.”

Lola, who will be joining five other charity participants at the Great North Swim, described how her swimming instructors at Yearsley Swimming Pool are very proud of her achievements. 

She recently achieved her goal of swimming 400 metres indoors and has been training in open water at Pool Bridge Farm, near York, where she trains for up to two hours a week.  She tops up her weekly training by a further two hours at her local pool.

“When I first started lessons, I would often panic.  But now I love the relaxing calming feeling of water. My instructors are very proud of what I am trying to achieve and are very supportive.  I go to them with 101 questions, and they always answer them.  I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t swam before to try it. The event is a good opportunity for me to challenge myself and contribute to charity.”

Rachel Brook, Charity Manager for York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity, praised Lola’s dedication.

“We are very grateful for Lola’s support, and we wish all our swimmers every success on the day.  Lola’s determination is inspiring. To take on an open-water challenge for someone who was a non-swimmer two years ago shows remarkable commitment and motivation,” she said.

Anyone wanting to support Lola in reaching her £500 goal for York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity should go to her Just Giving page.