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Sue swims Ullswater for Asthma & Lung UK!

By Sue Johnson

Donate to Sue and help them hit their goal of £1500!

I’m swimming to make a difference!

In July this year, I am undertaking the biggest swim of my life in the open water of Ullswater! I will swim end to end - a total of 7.5 miles to raise money for Asthma and Lung UK.

Call me crazy taking on this challenge at the age of 65, with no previous long distance swims under my belt - but this is an amazing charity close to our hearts.

As some of you may know, my daughter, Lizzie was working as a Midwife four years ago when she caught covid. Since then her asthma became out of control and she was diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma (a type of severe asthma which affects only 4% of asthmatics). This has led to several admissions to Intensive Care and the development of other health conditions which severely impact her life. She is currently battling long covid and chronic pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs) as well as frequent asthma attacks. Her treatment has left her immunosuppressed which means she has to be extremely careful to avoid infections as well as avoiding daily asthma triggers such as smoke, perfume and cold air. This has resulted in her having to take medical retirement last year from the job she worked hard for and loved. However, my beautiful, brave daughter has tremendous spirit and determination to overcome these challenges in her life and battles everyday to keep her independence.

Imagine returning from your first holiday in 4 years by ferry, just to have a severe asthma attack in the middle of the English Channel. To have Critical Care doctors arrive by helicopter, the ferry returned to France and be immediately admitted to Intensive Care. We are very fortunate that although this life-threatening event happened to her, we have Lizzie back alive.

Lung conditions are the third biggest killer in the UK, yet too little is being done to prevent, treat, and cure them. Asthma & Lung UK are fighting to change this through focused research, impactful campaigns, and dedicated efforts in tackling critical issues like air pollution, smoking, and asthma care.

Your contributions will help to keep me motivated during the many months of training ahead!

Every minute, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a lung condition. Every pound I raise takes us closer to a world where everyone breathes clean air with healthy lungs.

Just £22 allows one of Asthma + Lung UK's nurses to answer a call on the Helpline, offering potentially lifesaving advice to someone in need.

Any donations you can give are hugely appreciated - thank you for supporting me and everyone out there living with a lung condition.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£2,314 + £293 GiftAid

My Goal

£1,500

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£24
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My Achievements

My Updates

Summer holidays don't stop me!

Wednesday 2nd Jul
Swimming from La Grand Cote to La Palmyer for training last week. Can't let my stamina slip over the holidays - only 10days until the Big Day! Opted for 'wetsuit protection' after surviving a jellyfish attack the week before ...Ullswater should be a doddle now!

6.3 miles ! ❤️🙌

Saturday 31st May

Training day with an extra cheerleader!

Saturday 31st May

Interruption by injury !

Thursday 20th Mar

Training interrupted by injury !

Thursday 20th Mar
Hi everyone!
Just a little update on my training. It has been unexpectedly interrupted for 2 weeks after I fell whilst running. However, after having my eye glued back together and with steri-strips on my knee, I am glad to say I will be back to training next week. I suppose I could say, I was doing a 'tumble turn' ! 😂

Training Update

Tuesday 25th Feb
Training well underway and hitting 4 miles regularly but can't stop now and plummet in the middle of Ullswater.  Trying to improve my swimming technique, I joined the 'masterclass' 
(ha ha).  I felt like a fish out of water.  Stepping up the training was a real test!  Now I've added in some energy gels and I'm off like a rocket!  

Thank you to all of you who have donated already and hopefully through further support, I will reach the target of £1000 for this amazing charity.

Thank you to my Sponsors

£10.50

Lou & Mel Duxbury

Well done Sue 🙌🏻🌟 Love Lou & Mel x

£15

Noel Brandon

Well done sue

£15

Abigail Gardner

£10.50

Jannette & Harry

Good luck Sue.

£10

Heather Mee

£60

Annabelle & Paul Bundle

£20

Les Alexander

£21

Christopher Knight

£63

Anne Buchanan

Pleased to support

£20

Karen Blain

Good luck! I know you'll smash it Sue xx

£15.75

Elizabeth Edwards

Well done Sue

£25

Joyce Halliday

£21

Janet Bryan

£10

Suzanne Fegan

Good Luck. You’re amazing!

£15.75

Anonymous

Good luck

£20

Rob Johnson

£50

Lizzie

Very proud of you for taking on this challenge mum- what a woman! Donating the money I earned from sharing my story with the Metro xx

£10.50

Andy & Cath Number 40

Good luck Sue

£42

Ben Johnson

£10

Deborah Hughes

Amazing Sue. Well done. Good luck xx

£20

Stewart Bailey

£21

Tom Mercer

£31.50

Kaye Thompson

Good luck Sue I'm sure you can do it .Well done for taking on this challenge for a worthy cause

£5.25

Gaby Barton

Good luck

£40

John Dring

Good luck sue ! Power through ! Mix the strokes !

£21

Sue Clarke

Good luck in the heat 💕

£10

Sandra

You are a wonder woman and will smash it on Saturday.

£26.25

Michael Eves

Good luck Great cause

£10

Phil Tickell

£20

Pamela Pritchard

Good luck Sue

£30

Dave Highton

This is an impressive challenge for a great cause Goodluck Sue ❤️🏊🏻‍♂️

£14.18

Janey Dring

£20

Dave

£50

Jon

Well done Sue - praying it goes well!

£5

Suzanne Harrison

What an amazing challenge for a great cause, best of luck with the swim.

£21

Helga

Go Sue! Excited to come watch you, brave, adventurous, cray lady! You will splash it, I mean smash it! 😂🏊‍♀️xxx

£31.50

Paul Gurney

Good luck Sue and well done.

£52.50

Stephen And Liz Shoobridge

£10.50

Catherine Cumberlidge

All the best with the swim. Lizzie was my student and I send you both my best wishes and love ❤️

£10.50

Sue Sergison

Wishing you all the very best. Lizzie is a very special young lady xx

£10.50

Caroline Martin

Good luck!!

£20

Hannah Piert

Good luck Sue, you’re amazing! ❤️

£10.50

Kelly Snape

💓

£20

Deb Whittle

Good luck completing your challenge, an excellent cause!

£5

Jess Gerrard

£10

Jane Briggs

Was so lovely to meet you today at Wildshore…. What an inspiration you are! Good luck with your swim 😍

£52.50

Anonymous

Your amazing. In my prayers. Enjoy x

£5.25

Dee Rollinson

Well done Sue.

£10.50

Jan Locke

Wishing you the very best with this incredible challenge Sue. Will be praying for you xx

£21

Anonymous

£10

Jane Thomas

£10.50

Hazel Shaw

Amazing challenge Sue and a great cause Wishing you the best of luck xx

£50

Catherine Hancock

I know how much time and effort you are putting in to this. You are amazing. Keep going and hope you raise lots of money xxx

£10.50

Shirley James

Good luck sue

£20

Jane Smart

I’m full of admiration for you Sue, good luck xx

£10.50

Jackie Lee

Good luck

£20

Valerie Siddall

A wonderful cause, Sue. Wishing you the very best of luck x

£26.25

Michele Marsden

Good luck Sue fantastic work sending lots of love michele( Monday group)

£21

Jacky Turnock

I think what you are doing is amazing Sue. Love from Jacky x

£10.50

Germaine

Go Sue, you've got this!

£26.25

Cliff

£17.85

Tom Byrne

Happy 'Made Your Target' Day!

£17

Victoria Coughlin

You are an inspiration!!

£5.25

Harry Sneddon

£420

In Loving Memory Of Marjorie Johnson

Thank you for all of your donations in memory of our wonderful mum, mother in law and nana who passed away on the 28th March 2025. She would have been very happy to know that she was supporting Lizzie and Asthma & Lung UK.

£21

Barbara

£21

Tom Byrne

All the best Sue, fantastic cause and a super challenge I'm sure you'll smash it!

£10.50

Victoria Coughlin

Good luck sue!!!!

£5

Sheridan Coker

Go Sue!

£42

Chris Alexander

Good luck Sue 👍🏻

£10

Zoe Dixon

I am in awe of what you are doing and how focused you are on the training. You are superwoman and can't wait to support you from ur lakeside

£21

Mark & Deb

You have some daft ideas Sue…. This is up there with the best of them but is for a great cause…. At least you’ve not roped me and Brian into it!!!

£10.50

Anonymous

I'm supporting this marvellous challenge from afar. Go Sue!!

£8.40

Howard Tomlinson

£23.10

Christine

You’re amazing Sue 👏

£25

Liz & Ken

Brian says you're bonkers and we agree! Always have been, always will be! Good luck Sue, we wish you all the best and a great success.

£100

Alan & Margaret Shoobridge

£5.25

Chanel Gardiner

£10.50

Nikki Jones

£2.10

Anonymous

£15

Jenny Scott

Good luck Sue, what a wonderful challenge to take on. Love Jenny x

£10.50

Barton's

Good luck!

£25

Neil Harrison

£10.50

Sue Forster

Sending love and strength to you Sue xx

£10.50

Michelle Bullough

Fantastic Sue , good luck ,I know how Lizzy has struggled over the last 4 years x

£10.50

Linda Moss

Good luck Sue 👍

£10.50

Jo Anderton

Good luck Auntie Sue xxx

£50

Tony & Ann Marshall

Good luck Sue! Love and best wishes to Lizzie.

£100

Brian

So proud of my daughter who is a fighter and an inspiration. So proud of my wife too for taking on this major challenge.

^