Mental Health: How swimming improved the lives of three women

Maria Parker-Harris from Bournemouth struggled with her mental health following long-term infertility and fertility treatment. She signed up to the Aspire Channel Swim, which gave her the time and space to process these feelings and let out her frustrations and fear. She later fell pregnant and is now a mother to daughter Lily Hope.

“Suddenly, it seemed like everyone was pregnant or had babies around me and I isolated myself from friends because I couldn’t cope with my own struggle to conceive. My fertility doctor just suggested I lose 10% of my body weight to try and kickstart my reproductive system so I began swimming.

“It gives you the space to work through anything that’s been bothering you, the time to lighten your load so when you leave the pool, you feel physically stronger and emotionally lighter. It’s time just for me.”