Blog & Case studies
HOW TO BE MORE BODY POSITIVE
No matter your shape or size you are worthy of being in the pool just as much as the next person. So wear that swimming costume with pride because, we promise, you look fantastic. Read on to find out how you can start to love your body!
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5 HEALTHY LUNCH BOX IDEAS
We all know that we should try and eat a good mix of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fat in every meal. However, this is especially important while you’re participating in the Aspire Channel Swim to make sure that you are refuelling your body properly and preparing yourself for your next swim!
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10 REASONS SWIMMING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH & WELL-BEING
There are many reasons why swimming is good for your health and wellbeing. Whether you want to improve your fitness or take on a new challenge, such as the Aspire Channel Swim, swimming is a great way of improving many aspects of our lives. We’ve come up with 10 reasons why you should give swimming a try.
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LONDON'S BEST SWIMMING SPOTS
Looking for a new place to take a dip? Check out our list of the top 10 swimming spots in London - prepare to be inspired!
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UNDERSTANDING A SPINAL CORD INJURY
All the money raised from the Aspire Channel Swim goes towards helping Aspire provide practical help to those who have been paralysed by a spinal cord injury, but what really is a spinal cord injury?
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CANCER SURVIVOR AND FULL TIME MOTHER COMPLETES ASPIRE CHANNEL SWIM
In 2004 Zoe was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. Now 13 years later she has two beautiful boys and has completed all 22 miles of the Aspire Channel Swim!
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SWIMMING HELPED TACKLE MY ANXIETY
For months Robyn suffered from severe anxiety and depression, leaving her at a dead end of what to do next. Robyn eventually turned to swimming which made a huge difference to her low self-esteem, depression and confidence.
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EVERY BODY IS BEAUTIFUL
To prove that absolutely anybody can look incredible in the pool, we’ve created a list of fabulous women who are all shutting down the idea that body type has any impact on how good you look in life and the pool. Cellulite and all.
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HOW THE ASPIRE CHANNEL SWIM HELPED MY MENTAL HEALTH
Just last year Joanna had anxiety so debilitating that she was unable to get in a pool for fear of having a panic attack while swimming. One year on and she successfully swam 22 miles for the Aspire Channel Swim! Read on to find out how swimming helped her beat her anxiety...
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THE BEST POST SWIM SNACKS
As anyone who has ever got in a pool will know the hunger pangs experienced after swimming can be intense! Read on to find out how you can properly refuel your body after a swim, without ruining all your hard work exercising.
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REGISTRATION HELP: JUST GIVING PAGE
Nearly finished your registration for the Aspire Channel Swim 2017 but struggling on the final step of creating a Just Giving page? This article will give you all the help you need!
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5 MINUTES WITH ASPIRE'S EVENT MANAGER
We got up, close and personal with Aspire's Event Manager, Katy Boyd to find out all about her role, her inspiration and her biggest achievement to date!
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THE 10 PEOPLE YOU'LL MEET AT THE POOL
It’s inevitable; if you’re going to swim regularly for 12 weeks you’re going to meet a range of people whose only common trait is that they like swimming. Next time you're at the pool see how many of these types you can spot.
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HOW TO STOP YOUR GOGGLES FOGGING UP
Foggy goggles are a problem almost as old as swimming itself. Whether they steam up halfway through a race, or ten lengths into a workout, any amount of fog in your vision is a pain every swimmer knows.
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HOW TO SIGN UP
Need helping registering for the 2017 Aspire Channel Swim? Then you've come to the right place!
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5 GREATEST SWIMMING MOMENTS EVER
Feel like you won't be able to complete the Aspire Channel Swim? Need a little swimming motivation? Then check out our top 5 swimming moments ever for a little inspiration.
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5 BEAUTY PRODUCTS ALL SWIMMERS SHOULD OWN
We’ve trawled the Boots aisles and found you the best skin and hair saving products for while you’re participating in the swim. You’re welcome!
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10 MORE AMAZING POOLS YOU WISH YOU COULD SWIM IN RIGHT NOW
Need to be inspired again? Take a look at another 10 stunning pools from around the world...
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THE ULTIMATE EQUIPMENT LIST FOR BEGINNERS
Is the Aspire Channel Swim the first time you’ll be swimming regularly? Then you’ll need to make sure that you’re heading to the pool as prepared as you can be. To make your new hobby a little easier we’ve compiled a list of the most important equipment you’ll need before diving in, and how it’ll help your swimming…
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10 WAYS TO DRINK MORE WATER
Did you know that 60% of your body is water? How much water we drink can have a profound effect on our health, such as keeping us moving and healthy in general, an improved mood, weight loss and glowing skin. Read on to find out how you can up your water intake...
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THE BEST FITNESS ADVICE
When it comes to fitness it can sometimes feel like opinions about what is right and what is wrong are flying in from all directions. The opinion ‘No Pain No Gain’ in particular is thrown around a lot, but do we really need to be putting ourselves in pain to achieve the results we want?
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8 REASONS WHY SWIMMING IS THE BEST EXERCISE
Everyone knows that working out in general is good for you. However, here at Aspire we think swimming tops all other forms of exercise! Read on to find out more...
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10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SWIMMING THE CHANNEL
Have a look at these facts about swimming the real English Channel… some of which might make you grateful to be completing the swim inside!
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5 MINUTES WITH THE ASPIRE CHANNEL SWIM TEAM: ALICE
See behind the scenes of the Aspire Channel Swim by hearing from employees themselves!
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10 AMAZING POOLS YOU WISH YOU COULD SWIM IN RIGHT NOW
Feel like you deserve a holiday? Inspire your wanderlust by looking at some of the most stunning, serene and downright sexy pools that this world has to offer.
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HOW SWIMMING HELPED A BROKEN NECK
When Alex broke her neck by falling off her horse, she thought she would never be able to do exercise again. However, only a year after the accident she completed the Aspire Channel Swim; 22 miles over 12 weeks!
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ASPIRE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO MY LIFE
Having worked in London for two years for the National Addiction Centre as a Research Officer in prisons, Rowena’s life changed dramatically when her injury struck, leaving her paralysed from the chest down.
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LIVING WITH A SPINAL INJURY
We spoke with Amanda Hunt to find out her inspiring story about living with a spinal injury, and how she is more motivated than ever to help others who have suffered with similar injuries.
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PROOF THAT AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
For anyone that’s ever fundraised before, you’ll understand some of the challenges that you may be faced with. How do I get people to sponsor me in the first place? Once they’ve said they will, how do I collect the money and not make it seem like I’m pestering them?
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5 THINGS THE ASPIRE CHANNEL SWIM TAUGHT ME
Participants sign up to our annual challenge to help make a difference to someone’s life, and more often than not, this is accompanied by growing friendships, gaining new insights, learning new skills and in some cases, watching as their dreams become a reality.
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Five minutes with our Aspire ambassadors
We caught up with a few of our Aspire ambassadors, to find out how they are getting on with the challenge so far, and to see what advice they would give to future participants of the Aspire Channel Swim.
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Sporty Sophie gets back on the slopes thanks to Aspire
When Sophie Elwes fell from a roof terrace at a friend’s house, she sustained a back injury which would change her life forever. The damage caused to her spinal cord meant she would never walk again, but her prognosis was not to be the end of her active lifestyle. Thanks to funding from the charity Aspire, she has been able to pursue her passion for skiing and is now training with the British ParaSnowsports Team.
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10 top tips to help you prepare for the Aspire Channel Swim
So you’ve signed up to the Aspire Channel Swim and you’ve received your welcome pack, and now you’re thinking ‘what have I done?’ ‘Can I do this?’ Well the answer is… Yes you can! We’ve asked previous participants of the Channel Swim to pull together their top 10 tips of how to prepare for the challenge.
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We've gone global! US swimmer signs up for our challenge
Jim takes place in charity challenge that UK friend is unable to do because of cancer diagnosis
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10 year old girl signed up for 2016 Aspire Channel Swim
Lily from Portishead will be embarking on the challenge to help people like her dad who lives with a spinal cord injury
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Permanent neck and back damage hasn’t stopped Norfolk vicar from swimming the Channel…12 times
Eleanor Reddington is an Aspire Channel Swim-ming veteran. 12 Channel swims and 264 miles – the equivalent of swimming nearly the whole of England, from Manchester to Brighton on her own!
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The Aspire Channel Swim miraculously improves sick woman’s health
Jane Hatwell has ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease, but it didn’t stop her from completing the Aspire Channel Swim! Following her participation in the Aspire Channel Swim, she went into remission, and attributes the swimming exercise as the reason for her miraculous recovery.
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Life turned around for one man thanks to an Aspire Grant
Seven years ago a motorbike accident left Carl paralysed from the chest down. After a long period in hospital, Aspire helped him purchase an electric Batec bike to get out and about again with his family.
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From no exercise to multiple challenges. You can swim the Channel as well!
Kay Rolandi from Chichester, started swimming to lower her high blood pressure.She went from pretty much no exercise, to swimming 22 miles in 12 weeks and has so far raised £12,526 for Aspire.
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Aspire Grant gives Simon his thrill of exercise back
Simon loved all exercise, whether windsurfing, weight-training, or cycling and used to be that guy who ran 10 miles every day. However, his whole life changed when a deep dive went wrong.
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“I have been able to help improve the quality of someone else's life”
Lesley, from West Sussex, first swam the Aspire Channel Swim aged 51. She has a spinal injury herself, but wanted to make a difference for others with less mobility than her.
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Your fundraising has helped Gavin receive a voice recognition computer and adapted flat
Gavin had a spinal bleed in November 2013 which left him paralysed from the head down. Thanks to your fundraising and participation in the Aspire Channel Swim, we were able to provide him with Dragon voice recognition software to help him get back to work.
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Sign up for the amazing benefits of swimming
Swimming is the complete (and perfect) work out and has a host of positives for your body including psychological benefits. Here’s why you should get involved.
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Watch our new 2016 Aspire Channel Swim video!
We are delighted to present our brand new video for the Aspire Channel Swim, filmed over three days at five different locations, from both indoor and outdoor pools to the Royal Victoria Docks and Dover harbour.
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Sign up and receive professional hair care products
Sign up and receive professional hair care products
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Could you be one of our Aspire Ambassadors?
Will you be doing the Aspire Channel Swim 2016? If so, you could be one of our new Aspire Ambassadors who will chart their Aspire Channel Swim (ACS) challenge in five personally recorded videos.
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