Newlyweds taking the plunge in Swim Serpentine challenge

Susanna and Mike Thorpe will be taking on the Swim Serpentine in September

Our own Susanna Thorpe  and her husband Mike recently took the plunge when they were married, now they are doing it again by taking part in the Hyde Park Swim Serpentine to raise money for the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

Swim Serpentine is an annual open swimming event, taking place this year on September 28, inviting swimmers of all levels to test their endurance in the iconic Serpentine Lake.

Participants can choose from different race distances, making it accessible for both seasoned swimmers and beginners. Susanna and Mike will be taking on the one-mile challenge and hope to raise £2,000.

She says: “Having met in the sunnier and warmer climates of Dubai, where the sea water is renowned for reaching near bath temperatures, we have now decided to choose more moderate waters to compete this fabulous challenge.

“Not fazed by the big occasion we're cautiously excited about the race day in Hyde Park and hoping for as much support as possible.”

Mike adds: “I'm definitely an amateur swimmer but I do need some more ambitious goals!. Having been lucky enough to compete in the Dubai Ironman 70.3 event in 2018, I proved to myself I could swim 2km in the sea, sadly I have not competed since. Swim Serpentine is a great opportunity to prove I can do it again.

“I’m excited about it, a but nervous but very motivated, there's no better excuse for getting out from behind my desk and aiming towards a meaningful goal.”

The £2,000 target will help secure more than ten homes of the elderly, vulnerable and those that have been victims of domestic abuse who live in Wiltshire.

Says Susanna, who is PA to trust Director Jennie Shaw: “We are not natural water babies but are naturally up for this.”

The couple have set up a LocalGiving page for donations, you can find it here.