A trio of endurance athletes, Nicola Goodwin, Ian Rivers and Julie Hardman, are swimming the River Wye, from the source to the sea, to raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice.

The group, who are all members of Hereford Triathlon Club, arrived in Ross-on-Wye on Monday, September 19th, on an overnight stop and departed this morning (Tuesday, September 20th).

Nicola told the Ross Gazette that the swim was going well, but the biggest challenge that the team face is the cold water, and that getting back into their wetsuits, and into the river each morning, has been very difficult.

She added that the group have been swimming approximately seven hours each day, and while they have all taken part in Iron Man Triathlons before, their endurance swim of the River Wye is one of their most trying challenges to date, as Iron Man triathlons are all over within a day.

The river has also been shallow in parts, so the group have been walking parts of the way. Nicola said that they have been spurred on by the kindness of strangers. At one stage of their journey, they met some canoers from Essex, who donated £10 towards their cause.

The group set off from Plynlimon, the source of the River Wye, on Monday, September 12th. Each day, the group have taken an average of four stops, swimming between four and six kilometres between break points.

Nicola, Ian and Julie all regard St Michael’s Hospice in very high esteem. Julie works with the Wye Valley NHS Trust, caring for people, and Nicola and Ian both have friends who were cared for in the hospice before they died.

Ian told the Gazette that when he visited his friend in the hospice, before dinner the staff would bring around a trolley with a range of drinks, from cups of tea to whisky, for the residents. It was little touches such as this one that stayed in his memory. He added that the hospice was a home from home for his friend.

The group have decided to fundraise for St Michael’s Hospice entertainment’s budget. The money they raise will be put towards the drinks trolley, as well as putting on bands and choirs to visit the hospice to perform.

The team are very grateful for all donations. To sponsor them, visit the website Http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/riverwyesourcetosea