How outdoor swimming changed my life – and inspired my biggest challenge yet

From finding peace in the water to taking on the English Channel, artist Karen Bourke is swimming to help more children gain the life-saving skills every child deserves

Karen, tell me about your swimming journey. How and why did you start swimming?

From an early age, I was a keen swimmer. I loved being in the water. I was in the swimming squad at home in Pembrokeshire and loved to compete, as well as enjoy recreational swimming in the sea. I’ve always been drawn to the feeling of freedom that comes with being in the water. It’s one of the few places where my mind feels quiet and the noise of everyday life seems to disappear.

And what about outdoor swimming – how did you get into that?

I started outdoor, year-round swimming two years ago, and I have to say it’s one of the best things I could ever have done! The challenge of outdoor swimming evolved from training in my local pool.

In 2024, I set myself a challenge to give something back to Help for Heroes. I completed a swim challenge marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, where I swam the distance of the five Normandy beaches to raise funds for veterans and their families. Over the course of a month, I swam every day in my local pool, either before or after work.

In 2019, I received support from Help for Heroes during a difficult period in my life. It was at this time that I started to take swimming seriously and would train most days of the week. I enjoyed the structure and discipline; it really helped with my mental health.

After completing the challenge, I thought it would be good to start training outside the pool and began outdoor swimming with a friend at a beautiful local lake.

What inspired you to take on an English Channel relay with SwimTayka?

Looking back to when I was a child and learning to swim, as well as achieving my lifesaving awards, was the foundation of my love for swimming. I can’t imagine what it would be like not to be able to swim, or not to feel safe near water, and not to experience the enjoyment I had as a child.

Swimming is a life skill that every child should have the opportunity to learn, and that is why I think the work of Swim Tayka is so important. Helping children learn the vital water-safety skills that could one day save their lives is something that every child deserves.

How has your training been going? Any issues or difficulties?

Through determination and consistency, I have been pushing myself in the pool during the mornings. Training is going well, although I do prefer weekend training sessions as they are outdoors.

One of the things I find fascinating is how I’ve become acclimatised to the water, learning to read my body and understand the signals it gives me. I enjoy cold-water swimming. I respect the focus it requires and the sense of achievement it brings, as well as that tingling feeling after each swim.

The training sessions provided by Swim Tayka have been invaluable. Being with my team and learning from experienced coaches who have swum the Channel, hearing their stories, and learning the dos and don’ts has helped improve our swimming skills and confidence.

The monthly webinars have been packed with information, and we have learned so much not only from the coaches but also from guest speakers. Topics have included physical and mental health advice, as well as dietary and training guidance.

The qualifying swim was a good test of training. I completed mine at Clevedon Marine Lake. To qualify, I had to swim for an hour and a half in water no warmer than 16 degrees, get out for up to an hour, and then get back in and swim for another hour. It was good to experience this in salt water, as it’s completely different from the freshwater lake I was used to swimming in.

By far the best training session I have had this year would have to be with Orange Octopus in Anglesey. Newly established by Mark Scott (Scotty) and coaches Carl and April, the swimming adventure school was fantastic.

It was great to spend a whole weekend learning sea-training skills from Scotty and his co-coach, Carl. The boat training and relay changeover practice were vital skills to develop.

I particularly enjoyed the experience of the midnight training swim, as I had never trained in the sea in the dark before. It was so exciting; my adrenaline was pumping as I swam out to sea in the moonlight. It was such a different sensory experience, swimming through the darkness of the water while following the green headlight of the person in front of you. Sighting for the buoys located around the swim circuit was a challenge too.

What are you most looking forward to about the relay?

I’m looking forward to sharing the challenge with my teammates. There will be moments of excitement, nerves, exhaustion, and hopefully celebration. Being able to experience that together and support one another is something very special.

The Channel has such a legendary status in the swimming world, and the opportunity to experience being a small part of that history is incredibly exciting.

And what are your concerns?

The “what ifs”! What if I’m sick or get injured and let the team down?

Another concern is probably the unknown. No amount of training can fully recreate what it feels like to be out there on the day. The Channel is so vast, something none of us have experienced swimming in before.

On the flip side, though, the unknown is what makes it such an adventure — and what an exciting adventure it will be!

What I love most is the connection with nature. Whether it’s a calm, serene day or windy, choppy conditions, you become completely present and notice things you would otherwise miss.

What does open water swimming bring to your life?

I love how every swim is different. You have the changing seasons, and with that come different temperatures, weather conditions, and environments. Even your own mindset can make a difference. None of it is predictable, so sometimes you have to adapt your plans too.

Outdoor swimming has become much more than exercise; it’s a way to clear my mind and reconnect with myself. It brings me peace, perspective, and confidence. It has really helped my mental health and has taught me more than I give myself credit for.

Importantly, it has also connected me with an incredible community of people who support and encourage each other. The friendships and sense of belonging are special and rooted in that shared connection to the water.

How can people donate to your fundraiser?

Anyone wishing to support my English Channel relay swim and the work of Swim Tayka can donate via my JustGiving page.

Every donation helps support the charity’s work and provides us with extra motivation as we prepare for this incredible challenge. Thank you for your support.

I have also designed a T-shirt to help raise funds for my challenge (see below). Head over to HighDiveApparel.com to check it out and make a purchase.