BBC presenters face their swimming fears for Children in Need

Before a life-changing car accident eight years ago, BBC radio presenter Gemma Stevenson would not have thought twice about swimming 500 lengths for charity.

Gemma, 39, from Peterborough, suffered a brain injury in the 2016 crash and now relies on a wheelchair to get around.

The BBC Radio Cambridgeshire journalist, along with BBC colleagues from across the country, are pushing their limits for the Children in Need Big Swim.

Here, they talk about the personal challenges they will overcome to take part.

Gemma was diagnosed with a form of dystonia in her upper body – an issue in the part of the brain that controls movement – which can cause uncontrolled and sometimes painful muscle spasms.

Gemma was told to manage her expectations of what she could do, having swum competitively, played tennis, hockey, netball and performed in shows.

Less than a decade later, she has become a wheelchair tennis player, sports broadcaster, ICU World Champion and a coach.

“Sometimes people say you can’t do something,” she said.

“Maybe I can’t do it in the traditional way that you would see it being done, but let’s see how I can adapt it.”

Gemma came up with a form of swimming she likes to call a “free paddle”.

Her left arm does front crawl, while her right arm, which she calls her “nemo fin” as it is impacted by her dystonia, does a doggy paddle.

Her target of swimming 474 lengths of the pool in five days was something she could not have imagined doing eight years ago.

“When things get tough, I’m a lot tougher than I think I am. I’ve really enjoyed being in the pool there is something freeing about it.

Gemma, along with scores of other BBC presenters and their colleagues, are attempting to swim 24 miles each – aiming for a 1,000-mile total.

Since primary school, Trish Adudu’s relationship with swimming was set back by a misconception that black people struggled to swim.

She remembered sitting at the edge of the pool during school swimming lessons.

Never made to feel horrible, she said, but protected from taking the plunge.

“I remember the teachers being aware I’d find it difficult to swim.. I think they were trying to protect me.

“Somewhere in some city someone had read that black kids found it difficult to swim.”

But the trauma of swimming has lessened while taking to the pool for BBC Radio WM.

“Before my mum died suddenly, one of the things she said to me was just embrace life, Trish,” she said.

“Don’t be scared and just challenge yourself, don’t panic about things.

“[The swim] is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve done half marathons, but this is nothing like it, it’s really hard.”

She said: “I’m definitely going to continue swimming…I’ve fallen in love with it.

“It’s not this horrible scary activity which brings back horrible memories anymore.”

“It was the first time I’ve been in a swimming pool in 30 to 35 years,” said Kevin Duala, after signing up for the Big Swim with BBC Radio Merseyside.

“I didn’t realise until this challenge came about, the reason why I couldn’t swim: I’ve actually I’ve got a fear of submerging my head in water.”

While physically fit and always up for a challenge, Kevin said learning the techniques had been difficult, but he had felt empowered.

“It is phenomenal,” he said.

“Hearing our listeners talk about their journey and their fears and what they’re now going to do, I’ve thought to myself, I’ve done that.

“The fact that listening to my story has empowered them to do it, that’s priceless.

“It has made me feel very proud of myself, but also proud of the team for accepting the challenge.”

Parin Begum decided she would learn to swim while on a lake trip with her friends in Sweden.

Although she had learned, she never got over her fear of the water and felt self-conscious wearing her burkini.

“I felt a bit weird because sometimes I might be the only person there with a swimming costume like that,” she said.

“You get the odd looks. It’s already uncomfortable to go underwater and face my fears.

“Combining all of that together was not ideal for me.”

While training with BBC Radio Lancashire, Parin said her confidence had increased and she encouraged others to “take the plunge and drown out the noise”.

“I think it always starts with baby steps and over time you get over your fear.

“Go with someone you’re comfortable with and who will make you feel confident. You’ll realise that it’s not as hard as it seems.

“When you take too much notice of the noise around you, that’s when you get distracted.”