Tracey Maclaren's early morning swims raised money for My Name’5 Doddie charity
An Inverness woman spent the dark early mornings of January swimming the length of the English Channel to raise cash for the late Doddie Weir’s Motor Neurone Disease charity.
Originally, Tracey Maclaren and her friend Catherine Mackie – who got her into swimming last summer – were going to do the swim together, but sadly Catherine had to back out due to ill-health.
Tracey decided to take it on and swim the whole 22 miles herself, aiming to raise £500 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Launched in 2017, the charity had an aim to achieve a world free of MND. The number 5 is a reference to Doddie’s playing number for his clubs, Melrose and Newcastle Falcons, and the jersey he wore when he earned his 61 caps for Scotland.
“To date I’ve raised £520 through the JustGiving website and I have £30 in cash donations,” Tracey said.
While many of us have spent our early mornings asleep under the covers, Tracey got out of bed at 5.30am to arrive at the Juvenate gym pool with the staff so she could get in between 80 and 100 lengths before work.
“I’ve been swimming Monday to Friday – and it really depends on how busy the pool gets – I know I’ve drunk my fair share of pool water!
“The pool length is 12.5 metres so it was easier to work out in kilometres than miles making the daily target 80 lengths which equates to one kilometre.
“So 34 days swimming 80 lengths is 34 kilometres which is 22 miles. I began the challenge on Wednesday, January 4 and my target date was Monday, February 20.
“But I realised I would finish it early as I’d been swimming the extra lengths.”
Tracey who lives with her husband Graham – known as Josie – in Dochfour Drive, admits the early rising was a test.
“The 5.30am start was a challenge itself!” she laughed. “Once I was up, though, it wasn’t too bad, some days were tougher than others – when the pool is busy you needed to put that extra effort in just to keep your head above water and sometimes it felt like you were swimming through mud!”
But as well as having her fundraising target to aim for, Tracey had another motive for taking on the challenge.
“The main reason for starting to swim last year was to build up my lower back core muscles as I suffered sciatica last June and it crippled me.
“Numerous trips to a chiropractor and several pounds of cash lighter, I still have numbness.
“But I have certainly benefited from swimming.
“The bingo wings have toned up – as have a number of other areas!
“And I feel fitter and don’t get so breathless going up flights of stairs anymore.”
Tracey’s husband Josie – a former member of Highland Rugby Club – has been a great support to Tracey in her challenge.
Tracey says: “He has given me lots of support, including donating to the charity – well, he wouldn’t get away with not!
“He thinks I was brave getting up at such a ridiculous time but is incredibly proud of what I’m doing.”
Juvenate club manager Andy Sutherland said: “People generally tend to start challenges at the start of the year to kickstart a fitness regime. But if Tracey got in early she could get the space before it got busy to get her rhythm. I think she felt the benefit, as well as raising money for the charity that helped keep her going. It’s a great charity and obviously there is no cure at the moment for MND.
“Tracey is a pretty determined person and was very motivated to get up at that time in the morning to do it. It’s amazing and it’s not something that everyone has. There were guys who came in and saw her there every morning and it was a motivation for them – so she’s been an inspiration for others in here.”
Once her challenge was completed, Tracey thought she might continue.
“I won’t be giving up the swimming, but I might reduce it to three times a week. Who knows? I might miss it too much and have to think about another challenge!” she laughed.
What Tracey didn’t know was that husband Josie had planned a surprise for her final session.
“I got a vase engraved to give her which says ‘For Tracey Maclaren for completing the 34km swim for My Name’5 Doddie. February 2023’. I wanted her to have something at the end!”
Tracey’s JustGiving page has now closed, but you can donate here: myname5doddie.enthuse.com/donate#!/
