Leamington swimming teacher completes 44-mile 'English Channel swim' challenge despite recent hip operation
A Leamington swimming teacher has completed a 44-mile ‘English Channel swim’ challenge to raise money for a charity despite only recently recovering from a hip replacement operation.
Richard Hughes, who teaches youngsters and adults at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre and is also an aqua aerobics instructor, took on Diabetes UK’s Swim 2 challenge which runs from March 22 to June 22.
Participants are tasked with swimming either 11, 22, or 44 miles between these dates with Richard completing the latter, which is the equivalent of swimming the stretch of sea from England to France and back.
Richard’s employer and the company which runs the leisure centre were supportive of Richard, allowing him to put up posters up around the site.
And several of his pupils and class members along with family and friends have given generously to help him to raise £2,000 for the cause to date.
Richard said: “I competed the challenge on April 19 having only set out to raise £220 originally.
“I swam most days, doing either one mile , two miles mile or three-mile swims depending on the pool time available to me .
“I also managed to swim four-and-a-half miles in one day split up around lessons.
"I chose this challenge as many people I know suffer with diabetes and I had been out of swimming for a while due to needing a hip replacement.
"I had that done February 2025 and wanted to challenge myself and put the new hip to good use.”