'The doctors told my mum and dad that I’d never walk'

Jordan Brooks was keen to take part in the Children in Need swim

The parents of a participant in BBC Radio Oxford's swimming challenge were told he would never walk after he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby.

Jordan Brooks has right side hemiplegia, with the range of movement in his right hand and foot affected, but he plays sports and was keen to take part in the Children in Need swim.

"I’m stubborn like that," he says. "When someone says I can’t do something I’m like: 'Watch this space.'"

Groups from BBC radio stations in the UK are taking part in The Thousand Mile Challenge with each attempting to cover 24 miles (38.6km).

Along with Jordan (top right) the local team features (clockwise from top left) Jem Westgate, Sophie Rumsby, Dan Freeman, and Sophie Law

The rest of the local team is made up of presenter Sophie Law, newsreader Dan Freeman, journalist Sophie Rumsby, and apprentice Jem Westgate.

The team members, who began the challenge on Monday, will each need to complete 63 lengths every day this week to complete their task.

Jordan, a journalist at the radio station, joined a disabled swimming group when he was younger, and quickly discovered he was a master of the backstroke, and was awarded the 1,000m badge.

"I’m always the type of person who will try it, and if I can’t do it I’ll ask for help," he says.

Jordan found a love for swimming at a young age

"I’m stubborn," Jordan says. "When someone says I can’t do something I’m like: 'Watch this space.'"

His mother Diane recounts how growing up Jordan had to wear leg splints and hand splints during the nights, "which wasn’t nice for a little boy".

She adds: "He is very determined in what he wants, even to the point sometimes where you feel like you’re tearing your hair out trying to make him think sensibly, but in the end he does it anyway.

"He wanted to do everything everybody else did, even to the point where he knew he couldn’t play football for the school, but he was a mascot until he could play.

"But with swimming we got him to join the group and that was lovely, the people there were really lovely with him."

'Tough day'

"Basically it affects my grip and strength," Jordan explains.

"I’m really lucky. Cerebral palsy can be quite debilitating for people, and people need care and attention round the clock, so I’m very fortunate with that.

"The doctors told my mum and dad that I’d never walk, I’d be in a wheelchair... which is the severity of cerebral palsy that some people can have."

He says: "Today was tough, my left knee hurt getting into the pool when kicking, but I powered through.

"I kept my head down, apart from breathing - which is important - and as Dory says in Finding Nemo, just keep swimming.

"The finish line is in sight, just the small number of 126 more lengths. We can do this."

And with two days to go on the challenge, Diane says she is "not worried" about her son.

"He’s chosen to do it so he’ll do it," she says. "Jordan doesn’t really look at failure. It’s not an option."

To find out more, head to bbc.co.uk/swim.