Completing a 10km ocean swim is definitely a feat, but doing it with no arms is truly astonishing.
That is exactly what Kerry-Lee Gockel will do for the second time when she returns to take on the Island Charity Swim next Saturday, May 13.
The annual swim is a test of endurance as well as a major fundraiser for the children at the Nambour, Currimundi and Palmview State special schools.
The long-time open-water swimmer has never let her disability hold her back in life and the upcoming event is just another “challenge accepted”.
Lovingly dubbed the Wingless Warrior by a close friend during a pizza-eating competition, she said the fun name just stuck.
“I was born with congenital amelia and was basically born with no arms,” Ms Gockel said.
“We never found out why. Back in the ’80s, ultrasounds weren’t done as a matter of routine so it was a complete surprise to everyone in the room, my parents included.”
As well as raising funds for the important cause, the Brisbane resident said she was swimming to show the kids that having a disability doesn’t have to hold them back.
“At the end of last year’s swim, the very big emotion that I felt in my body was pride,” she said.
“Knowing that with the training I could do it – especially given that a few years earlier, 10km seemed almost inconceivable.
“If these kids can see that no matter how our bodies look and know whatever diagnosis we may have received at birth, it really doesn’t define what our bodies are capable of.
“Everybody has got an opportunity to explore and expand what’s possible for them. It does seem like an unachievable thing if you’ve got no arms, but the very fact I did it just shows what can be done.”
The South African native said she learnt to swim as a child after overcoming her fear to be fully submerged under water – and as she grew, so did her love for the sport.
“In the last 20 years, open-water swimming has been my sport of choice,” she said.
“Building up to 10km has been hard work, given that obviously all I’m doing is kicking.
“I do a freestyle kick with a pair of fins, but even then, it’s a lot to ask of my lower body. But after completing a 3km and then 5km swim, I thought with a bit of training, 10km is achievable.”
This year, the Wingless Warrior has teamed up with her swimming partner Joep Buijs to take on the event.
The duo have been training hard since January and will be swimming side-by-side from Mudjimba, around Old Woman Island and south to Mooloolaba, a distance of 10km.
“Training together consists of swimming at Redcliffe in the ocean and I do the navigation and she sets the pace,” Mr Buijs said.
“Her determination is incredible. She is very focused on the goal ahead and to raise as much money as possible for the special schools.
“We visited the special school in Nambour a few weeks ago and for kids with a disability to see Kerry-Lee doing these amazing things is inspiring for them and their parents/caretakers.
“She is someone who is not defined by her disability, but by the things she does.”
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He said people should consider supporting them because it’s extra-challenging for schools with children with special needs to raise funds as everything needs to be tailored for them.
“I was also surprised to learn that the ratio of teachers to children is one to three,” he said.
But the pair have well and truly blown their fundraising target of $10,000 out of the water, already raising more than $11,000 towards the cause.
“After meeting the kids, you realise there’s so many additional resources like play equipment that could really assist them to thrive in their environment at school,” Ms Gockel said.
“This additional funding will go towards paying for these important resources.
“It’s a very big motivator to do the swim and to raise as much as we can, because we know that it’s really making a big difference to these kids.”
To donate visit Mudjimba Island Charity Swim.
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