The Mencap Marvels, a diverse group of dedicated Channel swimmers from all walks of life, have set off on the incredible 21-mile English Channel relay swim in aid of Mencap.
The 2024 squads have so far raised a remarkable £33,000 this year and every penny they raise will go towards funding Mencap’s life-changing services, helping people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
lead happy and healthy lives.
At 2am Thursday 11 July 2024, the Sensational Mencap Marvels squad, featuring participants from across the UK and a swimmer from the United States, kicked off their swim from the coast of Dover to the French coast. A second team, the Phenomenal Mencap Marvels squad, composed of swimmers from Worthing, are set to follow.
After months of rigorous training in cold waters and night swims, the squads are ready to take on the formidable English Channel where they face cold waters, strong currents, and potential hazards such as fishing equipment and jellyfish. The swim can take anywhere between seven to twenty-seven hours to complete. Each swimmer takes turns, making it a real team effort. Despite these hurdles, the Mencap Marvels take pride in their 100% success rate in charity relay swims.
Quote from Nikki Pope, Captain & Mencap Marvel Co-Founder/Coach:
“This is an individual challenge as each person swims, but it's very much on the team to pull each other through. In a sense, that is why the Mencap Marvels align so well with Mencap, because the charity supports people with a learning disability through teamwork and
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
. This swim is our way of contributing to Mencap’s work, to make sure people with a learning disability can get the support they need.”
Quote from Jane Leonard, Mencap Marvels swimmer and former rugby international player:
“Ahead of my first English Channel swim, I am filled with excitement and nervous anticipation. While I am a former athlete, this journey into swimming has been a humbling and eye-opening
experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
. The dedication and mental strength required to keep moving forward have given me a newfound
respect
Respect means showing someone you think about someone's feelings, wishes or
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
.
for all swimmers. I am blessed to be part of a phenomenal team, whose support has been unwavering. Mencap’s mission to support people with a learning disability fuels my determination to complete this challenge and it’s an honour to swim in aid of the charity.”
Quote from Mary O’Hagan, Interim Executive Fundraising Director at Mencap:
“We are in awe of the dedication of our Mencap Marvels swimmers taking on this incredible challenge. Their commitment ensures that people with a learning disability in the UK can lead happy and healthy lives. The money they raise will support Mencap’s essential work, such as our campaigning efforts where we fight for the rights of people with a learning disability. We wish them the best of luck!”
The Mencap Marvels squads will continue raising money for Mencap with swims throughout the rest of the year.
To find out more about the Mencap Marvels or to donate, please visit their JustGiving page.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact Mencap’s media team on: media@mencap.org.uk or 02076965414 (including out of hours).
Notes to editors:
About Mencap:
Mencap exists to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We support people directly and campaign with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. We work to change laws, increase representation and fight for better health, social care and
employment
Employment means having a job.
opportunities for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK.
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which affects someone for their whole life. Typically, people with a learning disability need more time to learn and process information. They may need extra support to develop skills, complete tasks and interact with others, or they may have more complex needs requiring round-the clock care. The level of support needed is different for everyone and may change during a person’s lifetime.
Learning disability is NOT a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Often, the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used in place of ‘learning disability’. Having a learning difficulty (such as ADHD or
dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty. People who have dyslexia can find it hard to read, write and spell.
) may mean a person learns at a different pace or in a different way BUT – unlike a learning disability - it does not affect a person’s intellect.
With the right support, most people with a learning disability can lead happy, healthy, independent lives. At Mencap, it’s our mission to remove societal barriers and shatter misconceptions to make this more possible for more people.
Mencap’s guide to reporting on Learning Disability
When it comes to creating content with people with a learning disability, we know many people feel nervous about saying and doing the wrong thing. Our guide for journalists, covers everything from up to date facts and figures to the right language to use. It also includes tips on how to work with people with a learning disability to gather the best content.