Aileen Lister
Hometown: Colchester
Age: 57

I am a nurse at Colchester Hospital, I live in Dedham Essex. It has been very tough lately as I have been on the front line. I am so pleased to have been chosen to be one of the 6 and I am looking forward to meeting the other girls and developing a friendship and looking forward to the challenge. Following a separation after 35 years of marriage, I was feeling very lonely and anxious, I was in a very dark place, I was driving through Dedham where I saw a group of people by the river in wetsuits, I pulled over and asked them if I could join them, these people became my rock and my support network. The following week I joined them and had my first swim, I found it to be the most spiritual and calming experience I had ever encountered, once I started swimming my anxieties became less and I felt emotionally happier within myself. I am now ready to take on the challenge of swimming a mile in the open water and really encourage and support other people who have wanted to have a go themselves.