How we change lives Stories from the people we support Helen's swim to success Helen lives in our Waterfront service and has a learning disability. During lockdown she started walking and followed a healthy eating plan. She completed the 40 miles for 40 years walking challenge but had to take a rest eventually when her cellulitis flared up. She gave aqua aerobics a try then decided to go for a swim as when she was younger, she was part of a disability swimming club where she won a number of medals! Her passion for swimming was sparked again and it brought back a lot of positive memories for her. Helen likes a challenge to motivate herself and hold herself accountable. She signed up for the New Year swim and even managed to convince two support workers to take the plunge with her! After this she set herself a personal challenge – to swim 1,000 lengths, with the reward of going out on a seaplane if she managed it. Helen and Service Lead Carly discussed how she would track her progress and she quickly became stronger and faster in the water. After getting a Fitbit for her birthday she was able to track her swims. Helen achieved her goal of 1,000 lengths and booked on the Loch Lomond seaplane with two of her housemates and two of the team to celebrate her success. All this hard work lead to Helen being announced the winner for West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute's Mary Williamson Award at the Cornerstone Star Awards 2024! If you would like to read more stories from the people we support you can click here. You can read more about what the people we support, our colleagues and teams across Scotland have been up to in our Newsletters. Manage Cookie Preferences