Fort Myers woman swims across the North Channel for Multiple Sclerosis

Author: Zoe Warner Writer: Bryanna Sterzenbach
Published: Updated:

A woman is making a name for herself as the first Floridian to complete a 21-mile swim across the North Channel, from Ireland to Scotland, to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.

Heather Roka is a Fort Myers native who grew up loving the water, from swimming at Fort Myers High School to competing at long-distance open water swims.

But she knew she wanted to swim for a bigger cause, so in August she decided to complete in one of the hardest open water swims: the North Channel, known for its extremely cold waters and jellyfish.

Roka was stung during her swim but said the reason behind it made it all worth it.

“Knowing that I was swimming for the MS Center, which works and helps people in the community who have a wide range of disabilities, who have often a very hard time just getting through the regular daily routine of life, I certainly could push myself through a little bit more suffering,” said Roka.

Roka doesn’t want to do any more swims with jellyfish for a while but wants to continue raising awareness for the MS Center of SWFL.

For more information on the MS Center of SWFL, click here.

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