Bernard's bid to swim the Channel solo for charity

A CROSSHAVEN shopowner will attempt to swim the English Channel for charity in August.

The well-known owner of Lynch’s Centra in Crosshaven, Bernard Lynch, will be attempting the cross-Channel solo swim in aid of Aware. 

Bernard has been undertaking gruelling training over the last two years in advance of this ultimate long-distance challenge. 

This challenge is no easy feat – more people have climbed Mount Everest than have successfully trasversed the English Channel swimming.

 Bernard started sea swimming over 30 years ago and is a proud and active member of Myrtleville Swimmers. Taking on this solo swim has always been a lifetime goal of his. 

The swim is held in the highest respect by open water swimmers. It is approximately 35km swim from Dover to Calais in France in a direct line; but with the significant August tides, Bernard will swim in the region of 48km over approximately 15 hours. 

The fastest solo crossing was made in seven hours, the slowest took nearly 27 hours.  

The success rate of Channel swimmers is about 50% and much depends on the weather conditions, water temperature and above all, the mental strength to persevere. 

It is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with 600 tankers crossing it daily.

 Main sponsors Centra are supporting Bernard’s cause and hope to raise as much funds as possible in aid of Aware. Aware is one of Ireland’s leading mental health charities and helps individuals, families and communities around Ireland that suffer from stress, anxiety and depression. 

To donate online, find ‘Bernards English Channel Swim’ on www.everydayhero.com or see Lynch’s Centra Crosshaven on Facebook. Collection units will also be available in the Centra store in Crosshaven. All funds donated go directly to Aware.

Sustaining a good healthy diet is essential for Bernard when undertaking his gruelling training sessions and this is where his sponsors are coming in very handy. Centra’s new approach to healthy living is helping Bernard’s preparations.  

Last year, the retailer made a deliberate change in its food policy, introducing the Live Well programme, which encourages customers to make healthy choices when shopping.  

This is done through the products they offer and through the way these products are placed within the store, making them easily visible and identifiable to customers. 

Promoting healthy activities, and educating the public in a healthy lifestyle, is also part of the overall aim, and thus Bernard’s bid to swim the Channel couldn’t fit better. 

 The swim will be monitored and authenticated by the Channel Swimming Association and you can track his swim live on www.channelswimmingassociation.com.