Colossal swim to raise money for Teenage anti-drug campaign

Tauranga mum Bronwyn Copeland is potentially less than a week away from attempting a courageous swim across the Cook Strait

The local doctor has been clocking up to 50 kilometres a week for over six months in preparation for this epic swim and has been swimming in the sea without a wetsuit throughout winter.

"This event is a massive challenge for me. I’m not allowed a wetsuit and the water can be anything from 14-17.9 degrees. There are also very strong currents, and there is no guarantees with regard to the distance one may end up swimming or the temperature or the dates of the swim, as so much is determined by the conditions”

The mother of two is no stranger to big swims. In 2018 she finished first in the 22 Kilometre Apolima Strait near Samoa and in 2019 swam the length of Lake Taupo in order to raise funds for P not once charity.

In the upcoming weeks, Bronwyn has been given two windows where she will attempt to make the crossing and will be supported by New Zealand swimming legend Phil Rush. He holds the record for the double and triple crossing of the English Channel. He has also completed a double crossing of the Cook Strait and Lake Taupo. He will be accompanying her in an IRB together with her swimming buddy, Neil Mc Clean.

Dr Bronwyn Copeland is a doctor at Tauranga hospital, who feels passionate about the prevention of mental illness – she has decided to use this event to support the P not once Charity.

‘That drug is a scourge on our Community. The P NOT ONCE Campaign targets teenagers and is aiming for a generational shift through a confronting Facebook campaign.’

• Any support for this event and for the P not once campaign will be greatly welcomed.

Check out the videos here:

https://www.youthwright.org.nz/projects/p-notonce