Bluetits 2 Channel Swim June 2025: Manda Mumford-Rudd

I am Manda.

I am many things including an engineer, a mum, a sister, a wifle, grand-manda, a friend, a warm-water swimmer, a cold-water swimmer, and at heart a Tigger.

Covid and the menopause hit me and my internal Tigger extremely hard. My mental and physical health deteriorated. I had never felt so down. Then I met the Bluetits; a group that offered me friendship, support, and, most importantly, a sense of being alive in the cold water, pushing myself and supporting others to embrace life and all it offers. I have swum in lakes, rivers, the sea, caves, been stung by jellyfish, been carried by currents, and found my peaceful place. I have also made some great friends.

This June, yes June 2025, I am part of Bluetits 2 English Channel relay team. We are swimming from Dover to France. Swimming distances has never been part of my life and I have never been a good swimmer. I was afraid of deep water, seaweed and the monsters that lurked there. The Bluetit Community and friends are supporting me to feel the fear and do it anyway, to feel the impossibility of this journey and to make it possible.

Part of doing this is about raising money for the Bluetits; an international movement of over 100,000 people in flocks around the world. The Bluetit Chill Swimmers are a not-for-profit CIC (Community Interest Company) who rely on donations and fund-raising events. They provide a vital inclusive, free swim community who support thousands of people across the UK and abroad. As well as valuable work in water safety, swim safety, swim coaching and the most welcoming of communities nationally and internationally.

A core value of The Bluetits is ‘Challenging our limits, together, and that looks different to everybody. Wanting to join others for your first cold water dip, learning to swim better, taking part in one of their events, or swimming to France. The Bluetit community is here to support and encourage everyone.

Together as a team and individually we want to raise as much as we can, so all donations big and small will be very much appreciated.

Thank you for reading and thanks for your support.

I will be posting here over the next few days and months. Check in to check out how my journey is going.

Manda xx