Jodie Millar (right) with her niece Indi-Rose at the London Eye on the eve of her big swim. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith social worker Jodie Millar will swim the length of the English Channel between Britain and France for charity on Thursday (17 July).
The 45-year-old has raised almost $60,000 for the Starlight Foundation, which supports sick children in hospital, after doing a series of long distance swims over the past six years.
Her 12-hour swim across the channel will be her greatest challenge yet and fate has already placed some obstacles for her to overcome.
“I originally planned to set off on 19 July, but my skipper has advised the weather will be no good then and recommended I go two days earlier,” she said.
“I was going to get into [the port town] Dover early to practise swimming in the harbour, but that’s not going to happen.”
Airport customs officials have not helped either.
“My channel grease was confiscated from me at the airport because it wasn’t in the right container. It’s what swimmers coat their bodies with before a swim,” she said.
Jodie Millar has been swimming marathons for children for six years. Photo: Supplied.
Despite the challenges, Ms Millar said she was ready to roll.
“I’m very nervous but I’m also excited. I want to thank the Griffith community who have supported me in my training and fundraising over the past few years, especially the Centofanti family,” she said.
“Every dollar I raised goes to sick children, as my family and I have self-funded my trip here ourselves.”
Swimming the English Channel takes an average of 12 hours. In a straight line, the distance is 33 km, but depending on the tide and conditions, she may have to swim up to 50 km.
“It’s not possible to predict how much time it will take the swimmer, or the distance I’ll have to travel.”
While it’s summer in England, the weather doesn’t heat up like it does in Australia. She described conditions as “windy and cool” as she prepared for a 4 am start to her journey.
“The temperature of the channel water will be 18 degrees. I usually swim in water at Griffith pool which is 28 degrees,” she said.
“But I’ve been doing lots of preparation in colder water.”
She’ll be swimming with the support of chartered boat Louise Jane II, skippered by Andy King.
“On board, I’ll have my dad Charlie on the boat and two American girls Heather and Sarah. They don’t even know me but they have offered their support, doing things like feeding me. Sarah Cassidy successfully swam the channel last week; I followed her swim and she offered to help me. My feeders fell through due to the change of dates.”
Donations can be made through the QR code on this poster. Photo: Supplied.
After completing her education in Griffith, Ms Millar moved to Sydney and worked as a police officer for 24 years. She came back to the Riverina four years ago, where she has worked as a lawyer and in social work.
“I was a competitive pool swimmer when growing up in Griffith, but I didn’t swim at all from age 17 to 40. Then I took it up to get fit again and suddenly got hooked on marathon swimming,” she said.
“Every year, I participate in the Starlight Super Swim, which raises $3 million a year for the foundation.”
Donations to Jodie for the Starlight foundation can be mode through her website or the QR code in the picture embedded in this article.
