Adrian's swimming the Channel for BIBIC

A CIVIL Servant from Montacute, who until 15 months ago had only swum for fun, is now planning on swimming the English Channel to raise vital funds to change the lives of disabled children.

Adrian Radford, 50, is taking on the challenge of swimming across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes to support children’s charity BIBIC - the British Institute for Brain Injured Children, which is based near Bridgwater.

He agreed to the challenge following an evening at his local pub with a close friend.

He said: “In the cold light of day the enormity of this challenge dawned on us both and we decided to have a rethink.

"Unfortunately for me, my friend had posted our crazy plan onto Facebook and when my mum called me to say how proud she was there was no way I could back out.

“I’m so glad that I decided to go for it. bibic is an amazing charity that helps children who have brain-related conditions reach their full potential.

"For some children this may mean that they will take their first steps, begin to play or even be able to splash around in a pool. Swimming the Channel seems like the least I can do when you think about the challenges that these children face on a daily basis."

BIBIC, which celebrated its 40th birthday last year, provides specialist support to children who have a brain-related condition or learning disability.

In the past four decades the Somerset-based charity has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children and their families by providing them with the training and strategies to help each child to reach their full potential.

The charity's fundraising manager, Jess Winchester, said: "Adrian is just inspiring. To go from being a social swimmer to attempting to cross the English Channel is an incredible feat of bravery and determination.

"We are delighted that he has chosen to support bibic and we know that the funds raised will help to change the lives of children we work with."

To be recognised as an official cross-Channel swim, Adrian must complete the challenge wearing only one pair of swimming trunks, goggles and a swimming cap.

He will not be permitted to touch the boat that guides him and will be eating and drinking while treading water in temperatures of approximately 16˚C. He hopes to complete his crossing in around 15 hours but if conditions are against him he may find himself in the water for up to 20 hours.

Adrian has been training for over a year and his planned crossing date is August 15, 2013.

All of his sponsorship will be used to pay for a bibic therapist to work directly with children and families and people wanting to donate to his cause can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Radford or by texting GBFR47 £5 or £10 to 70070.

You can of course text any number of times if you wish to donate more.

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