A BANDON man has set himself the challenge of swimming from Dover to Calais in aid of the Irish Dogs for the Disabled, a charity very close to his family.
A BANDON man has set himself the challenge of swimming from Dover to Calais in aid of the Irish Dogs for the Disabled, a charity very close to his family.
Alex Jeffers is doing the three-man swim relay, with two friends, across the English Channel next week.
It’s a tough challenge, particularly as Channel Swimming rules only permit a pair of togs (no wetsuits), a non-insulated hat and a pair of goggles.
Alex, along with swim companions Peter Walsh and Gordon Adair, are hoping to attempt the challenge any day after this weekend, but of course the weather will dictate the exact timing.
Each of the three challengers will swim for an hour each, in rotation. The distance is 21 miles as the crow flies, but tidal currents mean that the actual distance is closer 30 miles.
Obstacles include shipping lanes and jelly fish, and a water temperature of about 16 degrees, making warming up between swims vital. The swim should take approximately 15 hours, involving a total of about five hours of swimming per man.
Alex’s daughter Ceri has a very rare degenerative neurological condition.
Walking is a challenge for Ceri and she requires a walker or a wheelchair to get around. Ceri has been on the waiting list with Irish Dogs for the Disabled for over three years. Just a month ago she was given ‘George’, a stability dog.
Already George has transformed Ceri’s life and she is able to enjoy a walk with her new best friend.
The pair can be seen almost every afternoon training together around Bandon.
To sponsor Alex, please donate to Irish Dogs for the Disabled via http://www.mycharity.ie/event/alex_jefferss_event
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