Local Dover resident, Kimberley Hogben, 59, is taking on the English Channel to raise money for SwimTakya and we are bringing her story to our fellow Doverians.
Kimberley, who works as a model and remains incredibly active is taking on this Channel relay on the suggestion of her friend and chose SwimTakya in particular.
SwimTakya provide free swimming lessons and environmental education about clean water stewardship to underprivileged children who live along the earth’s open water: rivers, lakes and oceans.
Drowning is a silent epidemic that claims an estimated 360,000 lives every year, many of them children. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide. These are wasted lives and preventable deaths. SwimTayka’s mission is to give disadvantaged communities around the world access to swimming teachers who can not only provide the life skills of swimming, but create a legacy for today’s children, who will grow up to teach the next generation.
Kimberley has been swimming on Dover beach since she was a child and will embark on her journey once her slot has been allocated some point in the coming year.
Talking to us at CommunityAd Kimberley explained the benefits swimming can provide: “Swimming has been very beneficial to me as I suffer with depression and anxiety and I have lost lots of weight swimming which is really good. Swimming is a great sport and I would recommend it to everyone as it does not put pressure on your body and joints and exercises all the muscles in the body.
“I would like to thank everyone who has donated to this great cause, I really appreciate it. Raising money for charity gives you a great feeling of satisfaction whilst support a worthwhile cause.”