Scarborough teacher takes on Swimathon in memory of beloved sister who spent her life helping others
A Scarborough teacher is taking on Swimathon 2026 in memory of her sister, a midwife, who died from pancreatic cancer just weeks after her diagnosis.
Sara Metcalf, 57, will join colleagues from Scarborough Sixth Form College in the pool on March 21, as part of Swimathon, the world’s largest annual pool-based fundraising swim for Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and the Swimathon Foundation. Originally from Grimsby, Sara lost her sister Louise (known to family as Lucy) Morley in January 2025, only a few short weeks after she first visited her GP after feeling unwell following a family holiday to Sardinia. Sara, a geology and environmental sciences teacher, said: “Lucy had been feeling quite sick, but she put it down possible germs from her grandchild. But then she was poorly on holiday, so when she came back she decided to go see her GP. This was the end of October. “We could never have imagined how life was about to turn upside down after that.” Lucy, who was fit and active and a keen runner and cyclist, was sent for an ultrasound, which revealed a large mass on her pancreas. Further investigation found this was pancreatic cancer and there were no treatment options. Lucy died on January 2, 2025, aged 58. Sara said: “When she was diagnosed everyone kept asking what are they going to do? People get cancer and then have chemotherapy or an operation.
“But for Lucy and this cancer type, there was simply nothing that could be done. We just had to wait.” At the time of her death, Lucy’s daughter was five months pregnant with a grandson Lucy never had the chance to meet, Sara said: “Lucy was always a busy person and like a whirlwind. She had just semi-retired and was looking forward to her 40th wedding anniversary and a new baby in the family. But her illness was so fast, just like she was.
“Her death was like a steam roller, flattening everybody around her. Lucy was a force of nature. I miss her every single day, and even though I’m doing the Swimathon, I’d much rather be sat knitting and nattering with her.” Lucy dedicated over 25 years of her life to caring for babies and their families at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, where she worked as a midwife and ward sister on the Blueberry Ward. Sara said: “Lucy, known to them as Sister Louise Morley, was loved by her colleagues, mothers and families alike, delivering generations of babies. A birthing room at the hospital has been named in her honour. “I was always, and still am, so proud of Lucy for being a nurse. A career she gave her life to. Since her death, I’ve heard some incredible stories of the love and care she gave those babies and families.” Sara, who has always been a keen swimmer, will now take to the pool for this year’s Swimathon with a team of colleagues also reeling from the impact of cancer. She said: “I am taking part in the team event at Scarborough Sports Village with four of my colleagues from Scarborough Sixth Form College. “We have made this effort to raise awareness as we have all lost people to this disease and know loved ones, friends and colleagues who have been treated or are undergoing treatment. This is a small way we can honour them.”
Sara and her family and friends have done lots of fundraising in Lucy’s honour, for Cancer Research UK, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Marie Curie, Macmillan, and more through coffee mornings, Mighty Hikes, and now Swimathon. Sara said: “I’ll be swimming for Lucy, but also for everyone affected by cancer. We want to raise awareness, raise funds, and raise hope.” Swimathon 2026 takes place on March 20–22, marking its 40th anniversary. By sharing her sister’s story, Sara hopes people will feel moved to help fund the research and support services that families like hers urgently need. Sara said: “Our experience losing Lucy means we understand, all too clearly, why events like Swimathon are so crucial. Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie, they rely on us. Every length we swim helps someone else.”
What started in 1986 as an initiative to increase participation in swimming at local authority pools, has lead to more than 750,000 swimmers taking part in Swimathon across the UK, raising over £55 million for charity. Swimathon offers a variety of individual challenges from 500m up to a supercharged Triple 5k or teams of 2-5 people can take part in a 1.5k, 2.5k or 5k relay.
Visit https://jg.swimathon.org/fundraising/sarametcalf-1769007493627 to make a donation to Sara’s Swimathon, or to find out more.