Meet the Sandbach mum who's completed a 10K wild swimming challenge to help children battling cancer

By Deborah Bowyer 27th Jul 2025

Brave mum-of-two Abigail Phipps completed a 10K wild swimming challenge in July for children battling cancer. (Photo: Abigail Phipps)
Brave mum-of-two Abigail Phipps completed a 10K wild swimming challenge in July for children battling cancer. (Photo: Abigail Phipps)

A Sandbach mum has completed a 10K wild swimming challenge during July to raise money for young children battling cancer.

Abigail Phipps swam at Whitmore Lakes in Staffordshire to raise £518 for the Young Lives v Cancer and is now planning her next challenge.

Abigail during her wild swimming in July. (Photo: Abigail Phipps)

Every month, the bubbly mother-of-two from Ettiley Heath chooses a different charity to raise money for.

During July, Abigail, who also runs the "Talking is healing" ❤️‍🩹 Womens walking and talking group! Sandbach, took part in the Swim 10K challenge for Young Lives v Cancer .

She said: "I'd always wanted to wild swim so this seemed like the perfect challenge. I've lived in Ireland and New Zealand and swan in icy cold waters.

"This was a great challenge to do and I've really enjoyed it. I swan in the Whitmore Lakes' training lake which is 500 metres long so I could map out my distances.

"I set myself a bit of a challenge too to lose weight. Since May I've lost around two stone and the swimming has definitely helped. It was a bonus to have the heat wave in July because I swam in temperatures of betwee 19 and 22 degrees."

Abigail added: "Children and young people with cancer are facing a hard summer. Instead of making precious memories with their family, treatment means that they're facing weeks spent many miles from home.

"But cancer doesn't have to mean families are torn apart. That special moments are lost. You can keep families together this winter."

Abigail says: £26 could pay for an hour of support from a Young Lives vs Cancer social worker, so that children and young people with cancer, and their families, get the right care and support at the right time

£70 could pay for a night in a Young Lives vs Cancer Homes from Home, a free place for families to stay close to specialist hospitals when their child is going through treatment, keeping families together

Donations are still flooding in for the wild swimming challenge and can be made here

Abigail's August challenge , 'Still standing at Sunrise' is a 24 hour solo walk for mental health. More details about this to follow!

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