BBC staff set to swim for Children in Need

Swimming teams from across BBC local radio stations will be taking part in the 1,000-mile swim challenge

BBC radio presenters and staff across the West Midlands are set to take part in a mammoth swimming challenge for Children in Need.

The Thousand Mile Challenge, which launched on Tuesday, will see all BBC local radio stations across the country attempt to swim 24 miles each, to add up to the 1,000-mile total.

Teams from BBC Radio WM, BBC CWR, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC Radio Stoke and BBC Radio Shropshire will all be taking part to help raise money for the charity's 2024 fundraising appeal.

The challenge is taking place from 4 to 8 November.

BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Mark Elliott said he plans to get waxed for the challenge

Each swim team will be made up of radio presenters and colleagues from radio, TV and online.

It will be a challenge for everyone taking part and they all have different levels of swimming experience.

BBC CWR audio producer Rosie Eaton used to compete at synchronised swimming, but said: "It's been a little while since then and I don't do a lot of speed swimming, so that could be a little bit tricky."

BBC Radio Shropshire reporter Charlotte Benton also has a swimming background and said she swam competitively indoors up until the age of 18, before moving to open water swimming.

However, she said this marked a new swimming challenge.

BBC CWR's Rosie Eaton competed at synchronised swimming when she was younger

BBC WM's Kath Stanczyszyn has also done a lot of open water swimming, but said: "This is a very long way in a short space of time, it's going to be quite a big challenge for me."

BBC Hereford and Worcester presenter Tammy Gooding had less experience in the water than some other participants, but was feeling positive.

"I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world, but I'm nothing if not determined," she said.

You can also find out how they are getting on by tuning in to your local station or listening on BBC Sounds.

Children in Need is the BBC charity that aims to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people around the UK.