Eilidh Macdonald became the first person to swim the 15 miles between the Scottish islands of Harris and Skye.

“I wanted to do the swim because I had just graduated from university and was looking for a challenge that didn’t involve any essays or exams. My parents are both from the Isle of Lewis and a lot of my family still live up there.

“It was in fact my uncle who ran the support boat who suggested I try it,” explained Eilidh.

“The 15 miles across the Little Minch, which separates the Inner from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, was cold. As a result of the tides, I was foced to try in early June so the water temperature was little over 9°C (48.2°F) so I wore a wetsuit.”

Wetsuit or not, it was still a courageous swim on behalf of three charities.

Eilidh raised money in her unprecedented swim for the Bethesda Care Home and Hospice in Stornoway and the Martin House Children’s Hospice and the Cat Welfare and Rescue Trust, both in Yorkshire.

Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones