Kenilworth swimmers ready to take on English Channel challenge for charity

Keen Kenilworth swimmers are taking on the challenge of a swim relay across the English Channel to raise money for a national charity.
By Oliver Williams
Published 19th Aug 2020, 15:24 BST
Updated 20th Aug 2020, 01:04 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The team of Ashley Ball, Nik Collins, Mark Richards and Gary Kind of the Kenilworth Koalas team, will take it turns to swim stages of the 22-miles across the stretch of water next month to raise money for the charity Aspire.

They are members of the Kenilworth Over 30 Swim Club and trained in open waters during lockdown while the swimming pool at Abbey Fields was closed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They are raising money for Aspire, a charity which helps spinal injured people to live their lives independently and organises the fundraising challenge.

Members of the Kenilworth Koala's team in training.Members of the Kenilworth Koala's team in training.
Members of the Kenilworth Koala's team in training.

Gary said: "I am passionate about swimming, particularly open water swimming. I have completed Coniston End to End, Dart 10k, Swimathon Triple 5k and Homemade Hurly Burly 10k.

"Swimming the Channel has never been on my radar.

"I didn't think it was accessible to me.

"Something in life that just isn't up for grabs.

The Kenilworth Koalas in training.The Kenilworth Koalas in training.
The Kenilworth Koalas in training.

"Until I did my research and found Aspire!

"Aspire have a long history of Channel Swimming and experienced staff who set up Channel swims for nutters like myself, who want to experience this amazing challenge of swimming from England to France. And what better way to do it than in a relay team with five of your mates.

"I am delighted to be raising money for Aspire for all the fantastic support they provide to people, just like you and me, who have suffered a spinal injury from from a range of incidents...from bike accidents, to falls down the stairs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Aspire support people with spinal cord injures through rehabilitation and to find a new way of independence. "

Mark Richards of the Kenilworth Koalas team.Mark Richards of the Kenilworth Koalas team.
Mark Richards of the Kenilworth Koalas team.

Mark added: "Coronavirus slammed the brakes on everything we were doing, both in training and fundraising and we are now playing catch up.

"Without knowing if the challenge will go ahead or not, since June I have been donning the speedos - we can't use wetsuits in the sea - and heading into lake three times a week and I'm now upping that.

"Thankfully, if the Covid-19 recovery continues, we are back on schedule to set off on September 2nd.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We have been told to train for a 22-hour crossing where we will have to endure, ships, jelly fish, the dreaded cold and obligatory sea sickness so, with that in mind, would you please support my cause."

Nik and Ashley are still a little short of their individual fundraising targets.

To support the team visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gary-kindaspire

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-richardsaspirechannelswim2020

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ashley-ball-channel-swim-2020

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nik-collins37