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Donna Randall

2025 Summer Ocean Swim 2km

12 more sleeps until the first BIG SWIM @ Whale Beach - THANK YOU to my biggest supporters

4 years ago on the 17 January 2021, I did my first Ocean Swim in Yamba. Brendan guarding on the scary side (my shark bait) and Di calmly encouraging on the other.  It took me 50 minutes to swim 1.16 km.  I screamed at every wave, stopped every 30 strokes, at one point I think I may have cried (if it wasn't that swim, it was definitely another) and had multiple panic attacks (these have reduced in frequency but still occur).   That first day and every swim since, these two amazing, kind, incredibly patient humans have stayed by my side.  So, today's post is to say thank you to my husband (my love, my pack, my person) and my darling friend Di (my inspiration).  If it weren't for all those hours of waiting, encouraging. wiping away tears, rescuing me and challenging me to take the next step I wouldn't have discovered one of the greatest joys of my life - I LOVE YOU and I can't thank you enough for the incredible gift of being able to call myself an 'Ocean Swimmer'. xx

Bring on Swim #1 Whale Beach 2.8km - 26 January 
In loving memory of my Auntie Net #foreverinmyheart

It's all in the attitude - Smile, Breathe & Relax

This week, KG, from Whale Beach Surf Club, attended our beach training session (he's the one on the left in the photo). His advice to us; wiggle your toes in the sand, smile at the ocean, take a deep breath and relax. His positivity and love of the ocean was perfect timing for me.  The last couple of weeks, I've been struggling to regulate my breathing trying to do the bloody kick - only to discover that KG doesn't kick either!!  So, this week I've ditched the kick and I'm back in my happy place - x4 blissful ocean swims + x1 dreaded pool swim with my toes happily crossed and bobbing along behind me - heaven.   We are now halfway through out training and unfortunately, I am not halfway to my fundraising goal, so if you want to do something nice for Christmas, please help raise money for Cancer Research.  Link to donate is in my bio - Thank you and Merry Christmas!! 

The grapevine...

When I was a teenager, I was laughed out of an aerobics class by the instructor because no matter how I tried, I just couldn't do the grapevine. arms moving one way and feet doing another was beyond me, I never attended another aerobics class again.  In the last 2 weeks, learning to kick feels like my adult version of the grapevine. However, unlike my teenage self, I refuse to believe I can't do it.  We have 8 weeks before the 2km swim challenge and the 2025 intake for NBSLC Bronze Medallion entries.  So, this week is still all about the kick!   

Oh God please NO not the kick

Did you know that only 10% of the power comes from your kick!! Ridiculous. I discovered this early in my swim journey when I broke my foot and I couldn’t kick. Like magic I wasn’t running out of breath, I could swim continuously and it didn’t make diddly squat of a difference to my pace, in fact, I got faster!!  So since my broken foot incident, I have been swimming and not kicking at all. I’m literally dragging myself through the water. This was reinforced this morning at our pool training session when they gave me a kickboard and I went from up the front of the pack to the turtle at the back. I don’t understand. How can it be so hard. ??? So this first four weeks is all about the kick. Wish me luck. I’ll be back with updates each week. Thank you for supporting Cantoo and my journey to the red and yellow flags of NBSLC!! 

I'm supporting cancer research and prevention with Can Too Foundation. 

1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This means that potentially someone we love may have to battle cancer, and that's a statistic that needs to change. 

So I asked myself, "what can I do to help?" That's where the Can Too Foundation came in! Can Too provides professionally coached training programs for participants of any fitness level to run, swim and cycle their way to a healthier lifestyle and a cancer-free world. 

In return, I am raising valuable funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care, and control of cancer. Since 2005, Can Too Foundation has trained over 22,000 participants and raised over $30,000,000 to invest in over 150 cancer research grants.

It would be fantastic if you could sponsor me, or even better join me in a program!

Thank you for your support!

 

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$1,510

My Goal

$1,360

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Thank you to my Sponsors

$100

Donalee Cohen

Go you good thing! 🥰

$100

Paul Battye

Happy to kick in! You are one of the most inspiring people I know Donna. xx

$100

Nicole Sievert

Go Girl! You can do it 🙌

$100

Kelly Blair

You've got this. So proud of you 👏 🥰

$100

Susan

Go Donna!

$100

Christina Yager

$50

Lisa Neal

From Paul & Gidget and a huge thank you for supporting Cancer research

$50

Sandy P

Go Donna!

$50

Renay Xo

You put your heart & soul into everything you do my gorgeous friend! You’re MY inspiration ⭐️ Love you my darling Moo xoxo

$50

Mylissa

Good luck Don! I’m sure you will smash it! Very proud of you. Xx

$50

Dianne Leedham

You’re a swimming superstar, hope Brendan can keep up with you 🤩😉🏊🏻‍♀️💪😘

$50

Jo Hatcher

Nice work Donna!

$50

Francesca

Soooo good Donna ! Go get ‘em . 😊

$50

Jo Robinson

Well done darling!! An amazing achievement 🚀♥️

$50

Kaz And Kev (waz)

You go girl What a great thing to do and you’ll be an amazing life saver I may need you one day 😂

$50

Chris Roots

Go Donna! Great cause.

$50

Adrianne

Looking forward to sharing some of the swims with you Donna xx

$50

Bel Harper

❤️

$50

Dd

Go, go, go my lil mermaid 💪👊

$50

Monica Ulibarri

Love 💕 all the things you do Donna!! Good luck with your swimming 🏊‍♀️ goal! And yes rescue me next time I’m in Bondi!!

$50

Lisa Neal

Good luck Don. I have recently donated to a lot of Cancer charities so I hope this small contribution helps xx

$50

Elise

To kick or no kick - you are a little superstar, Randall! 🐬

$50

Hayley Shaw

GO GET EM DON! Such a beautiful cause xx

$30

Sharon Storbeck

Good Luck Donna xx

$30

Brayden Morris