Suzy in training for Arctic swim

CASTLE Douglas woman Suzy Rook has taken over 100 cold plunges in preparation for her Arctic swim later this year.

The 37-year-old is undertaking the challenge to raise funds for two different charities supporting people with cancer and mental health issues.

What began as a 92 day swim challenge has now evolved and since November Suzy has been preparing herself for the frigid Arctic waters with daily swims and dips at Loch Ken, River Dee, Mossyard and other locations within the region.

She explained: “Last year I had an operation in September on my neck and I found out a few weeks later that it was actually thyroid cancer. I’ve always struggled with low mood and sometimes feeling a bit flat in the winter. But cold water therapy really really helped me and I started looking for more places I could go swim and fell down a rabbit hole about Arctic expeditions.

“I spoke to my husband about it and we both thought I could give it a good bash, plus living in Scotland and swimming in lochs I’m used to cold water, so I thought I’d go for it.

“It is a one kilometre - or one mile polar swim - so it’s the glacier and ice melting coming into the water. I think about two degrees is the highest it will get but it will probably be in the minus.

“I’ll be in the water for 25 minutes just wearing my normal swimming stuff, no wetsuit, no gloves, I’ll have a hat but that’s about it.”

So far Suzy’s fundraiser has raised over £4000 for her chosen charities, the Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust and Back Onside.

She’ll set off on her polar adventure in June travelling from Glasgow to Oslo and on to Svalbard where she take the plunge on June 5 – the day before her birthday.

She added: “Sometimes I think I’ve lost my marbles but then when I saw it was the day before my birthday I thought, ‘if that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is’. Plus, I might get to see some polar bears and seals while I’m there.”

To donate to Suzy’s fundraiser visit justgiving.com and search: ‘Suzy Rooks fundraiser for Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust’.