Woman with incurable cancer swims 5km for charity

Julie Doughty has raised more than £5,000 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie

A woman with incurable lung cancer who swam 5km (200 lengths) for charity has said she would "love to do it again".

Julie Doughty, from Western-super-Mare, raised more than £5,000 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Cure when she took part in a Swimathon UK challenge.

The 62-year-old was diagnosed with stage four cancer in March 2022, which she said continues to be stable with immunotherapy treatment.

She said: "Fingers crossed my health stays as it is or gets better - I’d love to do it again."

Ms Doughty, who normally swims 2.5km three times a week, said she completed the swim at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre after deciding she needed "to challenge" herself.

Swimathon UK 2024 took place over 26 to 28 April across 400 venues up and down the country.

About 10,000 swimmers signed up this year, and so far more than £1m has been raised for the two charities.

Ms Doughty completed the 5km in just under one hour and 40 minutes

Writing on her JustGiving page Ms Doughty said: "At that time [when I was diagnosed] I was so unwell I really didn't expect to still be here and, even more unbelievably, to feel capable of swimming 5k in under two hours."

Ms Doughty said she felt fortunate she had a type of cancer that can be treated with immunotherapy, rather than chemotherapy, which she described as is "brutal".

In her case, the immunotherapy is not a cure but aims to keep the cancer stable or reduce it.

"This so far has worked despite my not having any treatment, due to dangerous side effects, since September 2022," she said.

Ms Doughty said the immunotherapy she received was only approved for use in the US in 2016 and a couple years later in the UK.

"This is why funding research is so important as new things are being discovered all the time," she said.

'Worth it'

Ms Doughty said she felt particularly inspired to complete the swim after hearing on Friday there have been new trials for skin cancer.

She said: "To hear that the day before makes it more worth it."

Ms Doughty completed the swim in one hour, 38 minutes and 57 seconds, tying her with the 133rd person on the leader board that charted the 534 swimmers racing that day.

She was able to reach her goal of £5,000 after someone handed her a £20 note at the event.

'Overwhelmed'

President and general manager of JustGiving, Pascale Harvie, said: “We at JustGiving have been incredibly moved by Julie's story.

“Despite going through the toughest of times, she has selflessly raised an amazing amount of money to help other people in a show of true determination."

The team at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre said: "We are very proud of everyone who has participated in our Swimathon and Julie's achievement was incredible."

Writing on her JustGiving page after the event, Ms Doughty said: "I am overwhelmed and humbled by all your lovely messages and incredible generosity.

"I will be honest - the last 20 lengths were a challenge but I got there and that's thanks to all the encouragement you have given me."