Son prepares for 'emotional' 13-mile charity swim

Simon Clark's father Robert Clark (pictured left) passed away in 2023

The son of a "supportive and gentle" ex-naval officer who passed away from bowel cancer has said the diagnosis brought his family closer together than ever.

Simon Clark plans to swim the length of a half marathon in Bath Leisure Centre for charity and in memory of his father.

Robert Clark, who often took part in the Bath Half for Dorothy House Hospice Care, passed away in 2023 after receiving "instrumental" support from the charity for his end of life care.

Mr Clark said he was a man who tirelessly "supported his family and causes in the local community" and wanted to give back in his honour.

"I grew up with my dad running the Bath half Marathon every year to raise money for Dorothy House - I was always inspired by dad," he said.

"He passed away before I became a dad - he never got a chance to meet his granddaughter.

"I was able to record a little interview with him.

"I can now keep that recording, and my daughter can watch that when she's old enough," he added.

Robert Clark was an officer in the Royal Navy for 30 years who then joined the civil service before retirement

Mr Clark said: "We used to go to the Bath Leisure Centre Pool, and I kind of got a love for the water there.

"[Doing the challenge] I'll imagine him in the seats watching me and reading a paper looking down and going, 'Oh, keep going'.

"It's going to be emotional."

Simon Clark said his father used to take him swimming at Bath Leisure Centre as a child

Any money raised from the challenge will be donated to Dorothy House and Cancer Research.

Don Kennedy, head of fundraising at Dorothy House Hospice Care said: "Simon's Swim is a phenomenal fundraising challenge.

"We only receive 20% of our funding from the government, so Simon's generosity ensures that we can provide vital end of life care to other people like his dad."