Will swim to fight hunger

At 16, Prisha Tapre is about to create history by swimming the English Channel solo. She will arguably be the youngest to complete this challenge scheduled for the end of August 2024. The swim covers approximately 40 kilometres but could be longer to mitigate strong currents and unpredictable weather conditions.

Prisha has taken up a challenge not just to swim the English Channel but also to raise funds for Akshaya Patra. The Bushey Meads School pupil feels disturbed that young people, pupils her age and less, could be missing meals in the UK and India due to poverty. Here is an inspiring note from Prisha Tapre.

“Hi, I’m Prisha Tapre. I just turned 16, and I have been training to swim the English Channel solo. Many say it is harder than climbing Mount Everest. That really motivates me and pushes me to do more. I feel confident after my last long swim and I hope to keep swimming, just keep swimming.

“My parents Poonam and Rahul Tapre work very hard here in the UK and make sure my brother and I have everything we need. However, some people I personally know have been at risk of hunger when they were growing up in India. They needed the mid-day meals provided by Akshaya Patra. Here in the UK, the work done by Akshaya Patra really inspires me. They feed children my age and even younger. As a sportsperson, I know the importance of nutrition and a good diet. Without which we cannot fulfil our potential. I am challenging myself to raise funds for Akshaya Patra.

“I have a special connection with water. I started swimming when I started walking as a child. My mother was an athlete and I think I got her genes. I joined many sports, but I always went back to swimming with more passion. My head is clear in water, literally cleared off all thoughts, fears, and anxieties. There is nothing more calming than dipping into a lake a river or a sea. It is a spiritual experience for me. I can never get that level of joy with anything else like food or going out with friends or a movie etc.

“I wish to set a precedent so that more girls like me take to sports. I especially wish to promote it to different ethnicities. In our community, it is rare to find a girl to take to swimming for a sport. That is the barrier I want to break. I swim for myself. I hope I don’t see any sharks during my swim. Other than that, I’ll take a deep breath and jump in, hoping to finish the challenge in as little time as I possibly can.”

Please support Prisha Tapre’s effort and fundraiser. https://www.justgiving.com/page/prisha-tapre-1716478513305