Firefighters raise pool of cash in English Channel challenge

by Nikki Jarvis

nikki.jarvis@essnmedia.co.uk

VIRTUAL CHANNEL: Firefighters Caroline Hagenan and Glen Wanless prepare to front crawl their way to the money

Kind-hearted firefighters got into their bathing suits for a marathon swim to raise money for charity.

The team of eight Blue Watch members from Addington Fire Station, in Lodge Lane, swam 1,344 lengths between them.

This is equivalent to crossing the English Channel between Dover and Calais – 21 miles.

The crew was given 11 hours last Tuesday in the Central Parade swimming pool to complete the challenge, but the determined group raced to finish in just nine hours.

Fireman Glen Wanless, 34, said: "It was really hard work but good fun and brought us closer together as a team.

"Our crew manager Tony Skilton was the hero of the day though because he started swimming at 6.30am and got in 226 lengths before we'd even started and 400 in total.

"Had he not done that, a few more laps would have been completely back breaking for the rest of us – and he's the oldest of us at 54!

"We all felt a little winded and sore but when we saw we only had 100 lengths to go towards the end we got our second wind and really pushed hard to finish as quickly as we could."

The generous squad have been sponsored nearly £400 so far which will be split between their chosen Fire Fighters' Charity, which helps firefighters and their families if they get hurt, and the leisure centre's choice, Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Glen said: "Our charity is very close to our hearts because there is no-one else that helps firemen and their families.

"And everyone on our team has relatives who have been affected by cancer so Marie Curie is a very important cause to help as well."

Along with Glen and Tony, the Blue Watch swimmers were James Bowden, Caroline Hagenan, Gary Hillier – known to the squad as Gollum – and Mark Taylor.

Watch manager Tony Weeks and station manager Richard Lockwood also battled against the clock. Mr Weeks said: "It was tough work."

Learn more about the virtual Channel challenge and make late donations to the firefighters' charities through their Just Giving website, www.justgiving.com/tonyweeks