The Ultimate Trophy Swim
14 April 2021
Sir John Royden Bt (Grenville 82) lost his dear sister, Emma, to a brain tumour when she was just 32 years of age.
‘Sir John said “One distinguishing feature about my sister Emma was that she was loved and liked by everyone that she met. On the Venn Diagram that puts her with a big overlap with the angel category. Or, as the Ancient Greeks used to say ‘those whom the Gods love most die young’. Nobody ever had a bad word about her. Mind you, I think that is also true of our mother”.
Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 but are woefully underfunded. Less than 3% of the yearly UK cancer research spend goes to research into brain tumours and this has to change.
Inspired to support and raise vital research funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, Sir John is undertaking quite an epic challenge in July; aiming to continuously swim the whole length of chilly Lake Geneva at 42.8 miles in 36 hours. No wetsuit, no stopping and no rest until he reaches the finishing shoreline except for only treading water for a few seconds to ingest a cup of sugary water every hour. Just 7 people have ever completed what is known as the ultimate ‘trophy swim’ and Sir John will be just the 8th person to do so. Quite an achievement! Although this will not be the first time that Sir John has taken on mammoth escapades. In 1997 he successfully swam the English Channel on his 3rd attempt; clearly a very driven and determined man, and in 2007 Sir John climbed to Everest Base Camp just a year after he had had significant knee surgery.
Training to swim non-stop for 36 hours has been severely hampered throughout the pandemic with pools closed and travel to desirable outdoor swimming locations against lockdown rules. Sir John has taken to ingenious methods to continue his training, tethering himself to a tree and swimming ‘geo-statically’ in the middle of a deep pond (negates frequent switching direction) being one such method
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts, The Charity funds pioneering, world-class research, raises awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours to get earlier diagnosis and provide vital support for all those with a brain tumour diagnosis and their families.
“I am pleased to be supporting such a brilliant charity who are making real impact every day. I’ve had such humbling, kind and generous support for my swim so far which means a great deal to me in memory of Emma and really warms my heart. I just hope that emotional warmth transfers to its physical equivalent when I’m in the water and need a boost”.
You can follow Sir John’s training and swim itself through the social media links below as well as making a donation, if you can, at the Just Giving page link:
Just Giving - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/johnsmadswim
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/john_roydens_mad_swim/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MadRoydens
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/John-Roydens-Mad-Swim-101588095358717