WARWICKSHIRE SWIMMERS TO TACKLE ENGLISH CHANNEL FOR NCH
Steve Holder (44), Sarah Beacham (35) and Tony Hanlon (35) from Nuneaton and Corinne Thorpe (31) from Southam near Leamington Spa have set themselves the challenge of swimming the English Channel in a bid to raise over £10,000 for NCH, the children’s charity.
[UKPRwire, Thu Aug 24 2006] Steve Holder (44), Sarah Beacham (35) and Tony Hanlon (35) from Nuneaton and Corinne Thorpe (31) from Southam near Leamington Spa have set themselves the challenge of swimming the English Channel in a bid to raise over £10,000 for NCH, the children’s charity.
The swim will benefit NCH’s West Midlands Every Child Matters Appeal, which is highlighting issues including poverty, disability and abuse faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and aims to raise £300,000 to help run NCH’s local centres that work with over 20,000 children and young people.
Along with two colleagues, Steve, Sarah, Tony and Corinne have already begun training for the team relay swim which will begin at Shakespeare’s Cliff near Dover, and finish at Cap Gris Nez near Calais, between 7 -14 July 2007.
In order to prepare for the swim, in which each team member must brave tidal waters of 15-18 degrees celsius for at least one hour, the swimmers are undergoing a rigorous daily gym and pool training regime at Pingles Leisure Centre near Nuneaton, as well as training in cold water at Bosworth Water Trust on Wellsborough Road near Nuneaton two or three times a week.
“The training programme is very tough but it’s necessary as the cross-channel swim will be very gruelling. We are thriving on the challenge and keen to raise as much money as we can for NCH and its fantastic work with vulnerable and disadvantaged children,” said team leader Steve Holder, who works for Severn Trent Water in Leicester. Severn Trent has generously offered to match sponsorship up to £1000.
The swimmers are very aware of the risks. Tides in the Channel can be strong, and it is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world with over 800 vessels passing every day.
A pilot boat, provided by the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, will ensure the swimmers’ safety, and an official observer will validate the swim and provide a certificate.
Claire Morris, NCH Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “This will be a fantastic event and we are very grateful to the swimmers for their dedication. The money raised will provide vital funds for our work with local children and young people.”
NCH works with more children and young people than any other UK charity. Its local centres provide services such as support for families, children with disabilities, young carers and vulnerable young people leaving care, as well as divorce mediation, adoption and fostering.
NCH’s local services include Sure Start Nuneaton on Coton Road, which works to give children aged 0-4 the very best start in life through helping and supporting families and children, and Leamington Parents’ Centre, based at Lillington Primary School on Cubbington Road, which provides parents with free support, advice and information about parenting issues.
Anyone wanting to sponsor the swimmers can contact Elinor Martin on 0121 321 5180, or write to Cross Channel Swim, ‘Every Child Matters Appeal’, NCH, 8 Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B72 1TJ. Please make cheques payable to NCH.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. NCH is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, working in partnership to run nearly 500 services for more than 160,000 of the UK’s most vulnerable children, young people and their families. For further information visit www.nch.org.uk.
2. NCH was previously known as National Children's Home. It re-branded in 2002 to become NCH, the children's charity.
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