Deganwy woman completes triathlon in memory of sister

Aug 21 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

A YOUNG woman who swam part of a triathlon in her sister’s memory has thanked Weekly News readers for their kindness.

Dr Rachel Rhiannon Jones from Deganwy died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) on November 1 last year at the age of 23.

Rachel, who had just qualified as a doctor, was very close to her jewellery designer sister Sian, who says her death has left a huge void in her life.

To raise awareness of the little-known condition SUDEP, Sian decided to take part in the London Triathlon, and has raised thousands for charity.

“I’m still very angry that she died of SUDEP, which we didn’t know existed,” says Sian, who now lives in Birmingham. “I wanted to let all the people know who kindly sponsored me that I completed the half-mile swim in the Thames for Epilepsy Bereaved.

“It was one of the most difficult, physically exhausting things I have ever done.”

But the 22-year-old revealed she nearly didn’t complete her swim: “I got a quarter of the way through the swim and nearly gave up. The current was so strong that every time I swam forward, I was being pulled back by the current. It was very frightening because I’m not such a brilliant swimmer anyway.

“There were 220 swimmers in the water with me and there were legs and arms everywhere. I got kicked a few times! The commentator told us we had to swim to the blue buoys and back again, but they were so far away I couldn't even see them!”

What kept her going was the thought of her sister.

“I nearly gave up a few times, but just kept thinking of Rachel and it kept me going.

“By the second half of the swim I got cramp in my legs and again nearly gave up, but continued through it. When I reached the finish line I was exhausted, then had to get my wetsuit off before the 400m transition sprint to swap my electronic timing chip with the cyclist from my team!”

Sian’s team completed the half mile swim, 20km bike and 5km run in 116 minutes. Sian completed the swim in 23 minutes.

She said: “I want to thank everyone that sponsored me. Whilst swimming in the filthy Thames with the rain pouring down and the wind blowing a gale, I thought ‘what on earth am I doing?’

“Yet on reflection, I’m so glad I took part in it and am hoping to complete the London Triathlon next year on my own.”