Iowa City woman to swim English Channel

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City woman is swimming about 30 miles a week in preparation to swim the English Channel this August. Cheyanne Boddicker said she is trying to raise money for cancer research at the University of Iowa through her efforts.

“I've had a lot of people in my family suffer from cancer,” Boddicker said.

The recent loss of her grandfather to cancer coupled with experiences working as a student clerk at UI's Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center helped spur the idea, Boddicker said.

For the past two years she has been training for the swim, most recently during the early morning hours at Coralville Lake.

“Early! We have to beat the boat traffic, so we get out here early in the day,” said Boddicker, about regularly waking up at 4 a.m. “All the people that I've met, the doctors and patients and family and friends who've fought cancer really keep me going.”

Boddicker is hoping to raise $25,000 for the cancer center.

For more information about the swim, Cheyanne, and how to donate you can visit her

website.