Beth French

Beth French is British woman who became ill with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) as a child, and is best known as a long-distance swimmer and motivational speaker. French was captain of most of her sports teams when she became ill with ME at age 10. By the age of 17, French found she could not get out of bed one morning, and needed to use a wheelchair for a time.

Uncertainty over diagnosis
Beth French first became ill in 1988, at age of just 10 years old, and she spent many of her childhood and teenage years without a diagnosis, and unable to make sense of the illness. She was finally given "a tenuous diagnosis of ME- myalgic encephalomyelitis" after changing to a new doctor at around 17, and she was advised to rest.

Recovery


French's illness was most disabling when she was 17, she recovered from ME by age 21, and believes her immune system's reaction to emotional / psychological factors including emotional stress triggered her illness. She was advised to totally rest, did not take part in controversial treatments involving exercise.

Ocean swimming
French had fully recovered by age 21; she was able to swim again and studied in Hawaii. She began ocean swimming and has never relapsed. Beth French swam the English Channel in 2012 at which point she had been free of ME symptoms for around 15 years, without any relapses, though continuing to make significant lifestyle adjustments to maintain her health. In 2014, she became the first person to swim from Cornwall, UK, to the Isles of Scilly.

Beth began the Oceans 7 open water swimming challenge in 2016, completing half of the swims within a year.

Against the Tides
Against the Tides is a film featuring Beth French, her life and her attempt at the Ocean's Seven open water swimming challenge.

Fundraising
French has raised money for several UK charities, including Action for ME and Level Water, a charity to improve access to swimming for disabled. She crowd-funded to raise money for her ocean swimming.

Talks and interviews

 * Apr 18, 2017 - Beth French: epic ocean swimming with ME - Lessons in Badassery

News coverage

 * Jul 4, 2017, Beth French abandons Ocean Seven Record Challenge - BBC news
 * Jul 24, 2014, Profile: Beth French, swimmer - The Independent

Online presence

 * Website
 * Against the Tides - Twitter

Learn more

 * Website