Originally from East Sussex but now living in Houghton Le Spring, Esmé Bebb responded to an advert for crew members for a unique world record breaking challenge taking place in November and volunteered for the role of on-board therapist.
She is also taking on a water support role which will see her driving a RIB, (rigid inflatable boat) and paddling a kayak. Her therapeutic body working skills will be especially useful considering she is helping on the world’s first attempt to swim the Atlantic Ocean.
Raising money for five charities, Help 4 Henry, Maggie’s, SOS Children’s, Addaction and CCP (County Community Project), Ben Hooper’s mammoth, “Swim The Big Blue” will see him swimming from Dakar, Senegal to Natal, Northern Brazil across the open Mid-South Atlantic Ocean. Using front crawl, Ben will swim up to a total of 12 hours per day, over 120 days. His epic swim will take him over 30-foot waves, subject him to shark inhabited regions and will bring him face to face with jellyfish, flying fish and a harsh Equatorial sun. Ben previously served with the army, the police and he’s also worked within the fields of mental health and Psychology.
Esmé is an expert in a combination of techniques such as myofascial release and lymphatic drainage that helps her clients manage pain and regain relaxed muscles and bodies. She is looking forward to being an integral part of the team supporting Ben in this exciting and awe-inspiring venture.
For Esmé, this is a dream come true, combining her love for travel, adventure, personal challenge and, more importantly, bodywork. Professional skills aside, she has an insatiable love of the sea and all things water being an avid swimmer; kayaker and snorkeler.
Her work will be long and hard on the support vessel where, as well as being Ben’s therapist, she will be taking water samples for Bonnie Monteleone from University of North Carolina Wilmington, recording wildlife sightings and providing on the water support for Ben.
“Ben’s a really dedicated guy and his determination to break this world first is awe inspiring. It’s going to be a great adventure but also one full of unknowns and extreme exertion. We’re also going to be very isolated, as the route isn’t on a busy shipping lane. We’re hoping to get sponsorship for satellite minutes so that we can send weekly reports back to our sponsors and fund raisers.”
Esmé and Ben fly out to Africa at the end of September with a view to starting the swim in November. In the meantime, Ben will be at Ramside Spa, Durham for a charity Questions and Answers evening on 19th August. Tickets £5 call 0191 375 3088