A COURAGEOUS Kidderminster artist faced fearsome waters in a sponsored channel swim dedicated to her parents and a blood cancer charity.

Illustrator and physiotherapist Sam Mould, 40, completed a swim against choppy waters from Dover to Calais on Friday July 6, and has raised £1,500 for the Bloodwise charity.

The charity research into new treatments for the blood disorders such as myelofibrosis, the type which suddenly claimed the life of her mother 69-year-old mother Lesley Mould two years ago.

Sam said: “My mum, like many mums, was amazing.

"She was funny, smart, creative, kind and generous and an all-round lovely being."

Sam also lost her “equally wonderful” father John Mould died at the age 71, who died of pneumonia in summer 2017.

The artist managed to complete the swim in 19 hours and 47 minutes.

She said that the swim was: "Epic in all senses of the word.

"I started on a clear starry night when the sea was flat, but within two hours the chop was rising and by the time we reached the mid-channel, the wind over the tide was creating lots of cross-chop and white horses.

“In the middle I was told I had to pick it up to swim us out of the tide into French inland waters.

"I felt so excited to put my feet down on that sand I can’t tell you.

“I couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of my team on the boat.

“Thanks to my Mum and Dad for being with me the whole way.”

Sam only started outdoor swimming two years before her mother’s death, learning to face her fears as she progressed from lake and river swims, to the challenging sea waters.

She added: “I wanted to use my family tragedy to raise awareness of blood cancers and to help Bloodwise to support other people and their families who are living with blood cancers.”

Emma Jane Jones, Regional Manager for Bloodwise in The Midlands, said: “Sam is truly inspiring and what she has achieved is incredible.

People can still donate to Bloodwise on Sam’s fundraising page at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/samloumould