Paula Armstrong to swim The English Channel

Deputy Station Commander at NSRI Table Bay, Paula Armstrong’s relationship with the ocean is one of profound purpose and unwavering passion.

She has not only dedicated her life to saving lives, but she has also now started an initiative which serves to raise funds for the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) Bursary Fund.

Paula’s experience in the water is vast, but no two swims are ever the same. She is currently training to swim the English Channel, a prestigious open-water swim in the world, taking place in August.

The English Channel is a 33km unassisted open water swim between England and France. 

According to Armstrong, the preparation for such an undertaking is physical and deeply psychological. "I've had to get my mind around swimming that kind of distance and evaluate whether I have the capacity to put in the time and resources it demands.

''For me, there are a few golden rules: Find the right team to journey with you; take yourself seriously, and make this your priority for the time being,” she explains.

On swimming for a purpose, Armstrong aims to raise R500 000.00 for AWCA’s bursary fund aimed at facilitating access to the profession and accelerating the advancement of Black Female Chartered Accountants.

“The AWCA is an organisation that I have tremendous admiration and respect for, and one which has become very close to my heart through the empowering initiatives they do for African women. What I appreciate greatly about the AWCA is the authentic, holistic approach they take in supporting women to break through glass ceilings.

''With this challenge, I want to send the message to them to say, I see you, I support you, and I believe that the work that they do is vital to the future of the country. ''

To support Armstrong’s goal, donate on https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/african-women-chartered-accountants-forum~2