Rosie Swale-Pope... An inspiration to all she encounters As my good friend Crystal and I were driving back from Clay, West Virginia on April 30, 2015, we passed a tiny woman who was jogging in front of an orange-looking cart. We later learned the cart had a name, the Icebird. Both, Crystal and I were extremely curious, so we turned around, drove up beside her and politely asked for what charitable cause she was running. This is when the three of us gathered on the side of the road and had the most wonderful, interesting, and amazing conversation I have ever had. We learned that her name is Rosie Swale-Pope. She is from Tenby, Pembrokeshire in Wales. She is a journalist, runner, speaker, sailor, and much, much more. She has accomplished quite a bit in her lifetime. For example, Swale-Pope completed a 21,000 mile journey around the world from Tenby and back, to raise awareness for cancer, after her husband of 20 years, Clive, lost his battle with prostate cancer. She once ran 27 marathons in 27 days to support Children’s hospice. She has a record-breaking transatlantic voyage in a 17 ft. boat she completed in 1982. She has also completed the Marathon De Sables, which is said to be the toughest foot race on the face of the earth. She not only completed it once, but 21 times! Swale-Pope has also written a documentary called Quest for the Maya about the time she explored the Ancient Mayan Kingdom. She now travels mainly to gather subject material for her books and to inspire young and old alike. She loves to tell children stories of her encounters with a wolf, bears and people with weapons in the hope this inspires them to stay strong in life. She tries to teach children to always reach for their dreams, but that life is not always an easy row to hoe. She likes to do motivational speaking about her husband, because he thought he was going to live forever, because he was such a fit man. Grief stricken over her husband’s death, she knew she wanted and needed to do something to help her cope with the loss. Since she was a runner, she made the decision to run to raise awareness for cancer. She also decided to turn her late husband’s sad death into something positive. A joy-filled journey to celebrate and be thankful for her life. She has run in countries such as Russia, Siberia, Greenland and Iceland with barely any supplies. Her track through Russia alone took her over a year. She has endured temperatures as low as 60 below in locations such as Siberia, where she suffered frostbite. Swale-Pope bathes and washes her clothes in small rivers and streams. She stated that the cold temperatures often freeze her hair before she can get the conditioner out. She also told us one time, while she was washing up in a small creek, a fish jumped out of her hair. Swale-Pope trained herself in Siberia to wash herself with only a jug of water. Also, when ill from a virus, she taught herself to get up and bathe, focus on all of the things she was able do and not to dwell on what she could not. After this, she calmly makes breakfast, eats, and was pleased to find out that most of the time that she felt better, physically and mentally. She has realized that rather than getting upset about a situation, she takes the time to think it over and realizes it will all work out in the end. She has run for many different reasons. She stated that she once carried a letter from London’s Prime Minister to a big business conference in Yorkshire, where she was also a speaker. A woman with intense dedication, she once finished a race on crutches, due to the fact she had been run down by a bus and broke her hips. She has not only endured many adverse conditions, but has also encountered many interesting people on her journeys. She feels her cart, the Icebird, is the reason for meeting so many wonderful individuals. She lovingly calls it the communicator. She recalled a time in England, when a group of shady-looking boys approached her around three in the morning to ask her what her cart was. She gestured to them, with a smile on her face, to come over and take a look-see and proceeded to tell them of her journeys. Swale-Pope spends most of her time alone with the Icebird on back-country roads. She told us that the last place she stayed the night under roof was when she crossed the Allegheny Mountains and stayed in the Alpine Hotel. She also told us she does not really like to stay indoors much anymore, she loves to hear and see Mother Nature at her best. Swale-Pope is also a writer, she has written several books including Just a Little Run around the World and is working on her next book, called Every Little Step is a Big Step.” Though, she has spent many years on this Earth, she is very young at heart and one of the most positive forces I have ever met in my lifetime. Strong of mind and will, and big of heart, Rosie Swale-Pope is the most interesting and amazing person I have ever had the opportunity and pleasure to meet. Written by: Carrie Nicholas
