Lecturers keep students in the swim of things

Practice what you preach was the order of the day as Occupational Therapist lecturers from the University of Teesside took part in the BT Swimathon event to help raise money for the homeless cause Shelter.

The staff, Sarah Johnson and Mary Van Loo, took along three students - Michelle Ashton, Vicky Norman and Sally Hall - from the Occupational Therapy (OT) degree course to help demonstrate that swimming really is just what the doctor ordered, or in this case the OT lecturer.

Sarah, Senior Lecturer in OT, said: "It makes a pleasant change to physically practice what we preach in the lecture theatre. Swimming is an acknowledged relaxation and stress-busting activity, which helps develop trust and confidence, spatial awareness and sensory integration. The fact that this activity has been in support of a good cause is an even better motivation to take up swimming."

The Swimathon, the largest swimming event in Europe, took place at Eston Sports Academy with the five swimming 20 lengths each and raising over £200 for Shelter.

---