Swadlincote Swimmer Megan 'Amazed' As Million Step Challenge To Aid Frontline Workers Is Smashed

Two teenage swimmers who challenged their clubs to walk one million steps to raise awareness for coronavirus frontline workers are still reeling from the 'amazing' outcome.

Megan Thomas, of Swadlincote Swimming Club, and Ellie Tennant, of Long Eaton Swimming Club were teamed up by their respective coaches to orchestrate an activity that would unite the two clubs.

Just like every member of both clubs, Megan and Ellie are sorely missing their regular pool training sessions and have their own personal disappointments to contend with due to coronavirus cancellations - Megan was set to sit her A levels this summer and Ellie had hoped to attend Olympic trials last month.

They wanted to come up with an activity that would boost the swimmers' spirits, help with maintaining fitness...and recognise the country's key worker heroes.

Eighteen-year-old Megan, who is a East Midlands regional qualifying swimmer, told Swadlincote Nub News: "Our coaches walk 20,000 steps a day so we thought that would be a great idea and that's how the Step Sunday challenge came about.

"We reckoned if we could get 100 people walking 10,000 steps each, that a million steps was achievable.

"We didn't realise until the steps started being registered that as many as 200 people took part, members of the club and their immediate family.

"We actually smashed the target figure, achieving 2.8 million steps. It's amazing."

Walkers were encouraged to wear a brightly coloured top to spread positivity and appreciation for frontline workers.

Megan and Ellie decided not to ask for sponsorship, but instead launched an online fundraising page Go Fund Me Step Sunday for anyone who wanted to donate to The Trussell Trust, which operates vital foodbanks.

The fundraiser has also romped past its target figure of £100 and currently stands at £353.

Organising the event together had another unexpected benefit for Megan and Ellie.

"While we have swum against each other in competitions since I was about 15, we didn't know each other very well until January this year.

"Teaming up to organise Step Sunday has been a really rewarding experience and strengthened our friendship," explained 19-year-old Ellie, a first year sports science student at the University of Derby who swims at national level.

Step Sunday has proved such a success plans are now in place to roll out the initiative and invite other clubs across Derbyshire to join Swadlincote and Long Eaton for a super-sized walk later this month.

"We wanted to do something that would keep our minds and bodies together at this challenging time.

"Now we hope other clubs will join us at the end of the month when we are planning to complete another steps challenge - this time walking the distance to Tokyo where the Olympic Games would have been held this summer," added Ellie.