Scarborough Teacher Swims In Memory Of Cherished Sister Who Spent Her Life Helping Others

“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.”

A Scarborough teacher is taking on Swimathon 2026 in memory of her sister, a cherished 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 21 March, 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 tragically, there were no treatment options. Lucy died on 2 January 2025, aged just 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, who lived in Grimsby all her life with her husband, children and granddaughter, 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.”

Sara and her family are now urging people across the UK to join them in the water this March. Swimathon 2026 takes place 20–22 March, 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, Swimathon has become an incredible force for good. To date, more than 750,000 swimmers have taken part across the UK and raised 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.

Anyone who can’t make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon, and choose a distance, time and venue that suits to complete their swim between 1 – 31 March.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson, Lisa Millett, said:

“With new technologies opening doors to new discoveries, we’re living in a golden age of cancer research. But as Lucy’s family found out, there is so much more to do to treat all cancer types and we must go further and faster.

“Fundraising events like Swimathon are vital to fuel more progress. Every length swum will help bring us closer to a world where more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. That’s why we’re urging first-timers and seasoned swimmers alike to take the plunge and be part of Swimathon’s extraordinary legacy. Together we can power the next wave of cancer breakthroughs.“

National Events Manager at Marie Curie, Hannah Grant, said:

“This March, people can dive into a fun, new challenge and raise money for a great cause. There’s only one chance to give someone the best possible end of life. That’s why we’re urging swimmers of all abilities to head down to their local pool to raise money and help Marie Curie bring expert end of life care to more people, whatever their illness.”

To make a donation to Sara visit her Swimathon fundraising page at https://jg.swimathon.org/fundraising/sarametcalf-1769007493627

There is more information about Swimathon at https://www.swimathon.org/