12:30
£25
Age 18 & over
Never tried open water swimming? Then the River Arun Swim is for you!
Soak up the English countryside in rural Sussex from a completely different perspective alongside a small group of like-minded people, all getting out of their comfort zone to achieve a personal challenge and support people with spinal injury.
The group size is roughly 20-25 and professional swim guides will be close by to help and encourage you. This is not a mass participation event. You'll be able to go at your own pace, so is ideal for your first open water swimming adventure. You will have time and space to enjoy the river and its surroundings.
You will be sent a final itinerary for the swim a week ahead of your swim date, as the swim and timings are highly tide dependent, but here's a rough guide:
You don’t need to be a strong swimmer to take part in this event but should be comfortable swimming 2 miles in the pool.
This is roughly 128 lengths of a 25 metre pool or 64 lengths of a 50 metre pool.
The swim is just over 4 miles long and tidally-assisted, which sounds daunting if you’re used to a pool, but means that the distance will feel easier than it would in a lake or in the sea.
You will be able to see the bank at all times, there will be ‘get out’ points along the river, plus fully supported boats to assist you should you need them. You will be part of a small group (up to 25 swimmers maximum) completing this event so help will constantly be available to you should you need it.
Yes you are welcome to swim any stroke but it would be best to swim front crawl as a preferred stroke rather than breaststroke. You can also wear fins if that suits you.
Yes, you will need to prepare for this event. You should have practiced swimming in open water in the wetsuit you intend to swim in and you should have practiced swimming in water that is not clear (i.e you won’t be able to see the bottom).
The swim will take place whether or not the weather is bad unless there has been excessive rainfall, which can cause the river to swell to dangerous levels. Lightning would also mean the swim would be canceled. The team will make all necessary steps to inform you prior to the swim in the unlikely event of a cancellation.
No, you can rent a wetsuit and you'll get advice on this when you sign up.
The Squire & Horse
Bury Hill
Bury
Pulborough
West Sussex
RH20 1NS
UK
If your partner or friends would like to support the swimmers there are various vantage points along the way, the swim start, the bridge between South and North Stoke, Amberley Bridge and the swim finish. All provide excellent viewing spots for photographs and cheering on!
This is a unique and exclusive swimming challenge for Aspire. All swimmers will be supporting the charity.
Supporting people with Spinal Cord Injury to help them live full, independent lives.
Every four hours someone in the UK is paralysed by a spinal cord injury. It can happen to anyone at any time and no one is prepared for how it will change their life. Aspire is a national charity that provides practical help, supporting spinal cord injured people from injury to independence.
Advice and information for people newly injured by a Spinal Cord Injury.
Independent Living Advisors provide advice and guidance to patients in Spinal Injury Centres.
Aspire's Assistive Technology Programme enables everyone, regardless of the level of their spinal cord injury, to independently use a computer, tablet or phone.
Aspire's Housing Programme offers temporary accessible housing for people with Spinal Cord Injury around the UK.
Aspire's Housing advice service can help if you have a spinal cord injury and have questions about adaptations, moving out of inaccessible accommodation and dealing with Local Authorities.
Free advice service providing advice and support to people with Spinal Cord Injury.
It was a really great experience. Challenges have helped me focus on things that I can do. You can actually see the nature. And then when I saw my friends at one of the checkpoints waving and spurring me on, I went faster. It has been quite inspiring for me to do it. I really believe in Aspire. Vanessa
I've always wanted to have a go at an open water swim but I'm not a very strong swimmer and I've never had the confidence to do it on my own. I've never swum in a river. I'm really glad I did it. Give it a go. If I can do it then anybody can do it! Anna
It's my first river swim. It's a challenge. It's the longest distance I've done but it's a lovely swim. Dan