Father takes on Channel after 20 year swim hiatus

Alexander David plans to swim the English Channel after only getting back into a pool a year ago

A father of two is aiming to swim the English Channel to raise money for two children's charities - after a 20 year swim hiatus.

Alexander David, 40, who lives in Devizes, Wiltshire, said he was a "keen swimmer" when he was younger but life "got in the way".

He got back into a pool a year ago and said he has always nursed "an itch" to take on the 21 mile (33.7km) swim from Dover to France. He is due to set off at the end of the month, depending on the weather.

"I've always liked to have a challenge and see where the boundaries are, so I thought I'd have a crack at swimming the English Channel," he said.

So far, Mr David, who is a managing partner at Awdry Law in Wiltshire, has raised about £3,500 for local Wiltshire charities Julia's House Children's Hospice and Devizes Opportunities Centre.

Mr David has been training at a local pool, in a lake and in the sea and aims to complete the swim in under 14 hours, but he added that his main goal is to "meet French shores and raise the flags of the charities".

Mr David will attempt to finish the swim in under 14 hours

He said that he decided to swim the Channel after he completed the Devizes to Westminster canoe race last year, and has been training ever since.

Originally from Port Talbot, in South Wales, he told the BBC: "I've gone head first into it, training over the last year to get ready for the challenge. I just hope I can do it."

The Channel's temperature can range from 14 to 18 degrees celsius between July and September.

Mr David said he is worried about the cold temperature, weather and stinging jellyfish, but added he will give it his "absolute best shot".

'Rely on public support'

Around 180 families are registered to Julia's House Children's Hospice in Wiltshire and Dorset.

Alice Chalmers, public fundraising manager for the charity, said it relies "hugely on public support".

"We are running a £1m budget deficit this year, so we are vitally looking for people to raise money for us and get involved in the charity," she said.

"We are reliant on public donations to raise 92% of the funding that's needed to run the hospice annually."

Speaking about the fundraising campaign, Mr David said: "You can't really imagine what it must be like for parents to reach the realisation they may outlive their children.

"But there are wonderfully positive experiences for the children at the hospices.

"They have opportunities to play and be a child while their parents get the help they need."

Mr David is being supported by his family

Devizes Opportunities Centre provides support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Its chair, Graham Gaiger, said: "We are extremely grateful to Alex for putting his body on the line to help Devizes Opportunity Centre.

"As a centre providing help for pre-school children with special needs we provide an essential service which is woefully underfunded.

"Therefore acts of kindness and bravery such as this are hugely appreciated by us all."