Nick Flanagan is the Cancer Prehabilitation Team Lead and Digital Allied Health Professional at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT).
Away from work he is an extreme endurance athlete who takes on Ironman triathlons, ice swims and cross country runs.
The 34-year-old, who lives in South Shields, will face his “biggest test to date” by swimming across the Gibraltar Strait. He will leave Tarifa in Spain, the southernmost tip of Europe, and head for the North African coastline in Morocco, a route of 14.4km (9 miles) at its narrowest point.
Money raised through the feat will go to the cancer fund of the Trust’s STS Charity.
The swim is one of the Oceans Seven, a prestigious marathon swimming challenge consisting of seven gruelling, iconic open-water channel swims.
The strait is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Nick will also contend with the threat of killer whales, great white sharks and jellyfish, along with the wind, cold and cross-currents – all in just his Speedos.
He will set off between today (Monday March 30) and Wednesday April 8, when conditions allow. The Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association will co-ordinate the crossing, which can take up to six hours to complete.
Two pilot boats will offer support, one for communication and navigation, the other for helping him eat and drink. If he touches one of the boats, he will be disqualified.
Nick said: “Training for the Gibraltar Strait has been unlike anything I’ve ever done, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“It wasn’t just about getting fit, it was about preparing to move through one of the most unpredictable stretches of water on the planet.
“From long, meditative pool sessions to early morning sea swims, my life became a cycle of aching shoulders, cold water and relentless practice.
“I learned to stay calm when my hands went numb, to fight through headwinds that made me feel like I wasn’t moving and to trust myself when the water pushed and pulled in every direction.
“Strength work, stability training, and endless rotator cuff exercises kept me durable enough to handle the distance, but the biggest challenge was mental.
“Hours alone in open water teach you to sit with discomfort, reset your thoughts, and keep moving no matter what.”
He added: “The moment I knew I was ready wasn’t after a perfect session, it was after a messy, brutal one where I kept going anyway. That’s when I realised I am ready to attempt it.
“Most of my friends, family and swim team think I am crazy to even attempt it, and honestly, I agree.
“However, I strongly believe ‘What is for you, won’t pass you’ and this is my opportunity. It’s also raising money for a fantastic cause.
“All of my support networks have been brilliant in the lead up, but my mam Annette and boyfriend Jamie have been pivotal in helping me prepare.”
STS Charity supports patients, carers, families and staff. Funds buy additional equipment, improve facilities and make sure patients have access to the things that make their time in hospital a little bit better.
The cancer fund within it aims to offer more services and support its patients. This includes specialist rehabilitation programmes, equipment and resources, a better patient experience and life changing health improvements.
In Nick’s role, he leads the development and delivery of the growing Prehabilitation (Prehab) service. This is designed to optimise patients’ physical, nutritional, and psychological wellbeing before they begin cancer treatment.
Nick, who is originally from Waterford in Ireland, is coached by Russell White, an Irish Olympian and Commonwealth athlete. In addition to his own fitness sessions, Nick is a member of Wearside Triathlon and strength trains at Studio H in South Shields.
Anyone who would support his fundraiser can donate via this link: Gibraltar Strait Swim for STS Charity (Cancer Services)
