A Chester based landscape architect is taking on a triple swim challenge for charity.
Land Studio's Kate Richards is set to tackle three gruelling distances for charity, kick-starting her campaign on June 22.
The challenge will commence with the Aquasphere Chillswim, involving a 5.25 mile swim across Coniston Water in the Lake District.
Next, on July 13, she will swim 7.5 miles across Ullswater, while her final challenge on August 31 will be the 11-mile Chillswim Windermere, the longest swim in England.
Successfully completing these challenges will award her the Chillswim Triple Crown.
Ms Richards, who also chairs the Landscape Institute Wales, has been training in both her local pool and open water locations including Park in the Past near Hope, and Llyn Padarn in Eryri National Park.
She is taking on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for Surfers Against Sewage, a Cornwall-based charity which works to keep UK coasts and rivers safe and clean.
Ms Richards said: "I’m really excited to be taking part in these challenges and to be raising money for such an important cause.
"The natural environment is at the centre of both my professional and personal life, as a landscape architect and a keen open water swimmer, so the protection and enhancement of our rivers, lakes, and seas is really important to me."
Her passion for open-water swimming emerged a decade ago, with her favourite spots once including the River Dee and the North Wales coast.
However, she explained: "In recent years the water quality has become a concern."
Kate Richards was inspired by Sean Conway (Image: Land Studio)
Ms Richards also said: "Surfers against Sewage are a grass roots charity campaigning for the protection and conversation of oceans, monitoring water quality and lobbying government and industry, across the UK.
"This year I want to raise awareness of these issues by supporting them and challenged myself to swim the lengths of three lakes in the Lake District this summer."
Last year, she participated in the Aquasphere Chillswim Coniston to raise funds for The True Venture Foundation after being inspired by Sean Conway.
You can donate and find out more about the challenge at https://www.justgiving.com/page/kate-richards-1718432696531?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fkate-richards-1718432696531&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share.
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