BBC Radio WM takes on 24-hour swimming challenge

BBC Radio WM presenters Trish Adudu, Kath Stanczyszyn and Sarah Julian, BBC Midlands Today sports presenter Dan Pallett and radio producer Matt Mitchell were pictured near the pool

A team of five from BBC Radio WM has started its 24-hour swimming challenge for Children in Need.

Between them, they will swim 24 miles in that time, after starting at Sandwell Aquatics Centre, which was used for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, at 09:00 GMT.

The Thousand Mile Challenge 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.

BBC Radio WM presenters Trish Adudu, Kath Stanczyszyn and Sarah Julian were joined by BBC Midlands Today sports presenter Dan Pallett and radio producer Matt Mitchell.

Speaking after doing 66 lengths, having completed a mile at the site in Smethwick, Mr Mitchell said he felt "all right".

He added: "I've always trained mile by mile. [I'm] gonna do a 15-minute break, quick sugar cube... and then straight back into the water."

The producer said it felt like "we're on a camping excursion to be fair".

He explained: "There's loads in the cereal bars, there's fruit... there's plenty of water... We've got it all. To be fair we've started so well."

Sam Rabone (left) and Gill Jordan, better known as Doreen Tipton (right), from Lichfield Garrick pantomime Jack & The Beanstalk, supported the swimmers including Kath Stanczyszyn (centre)

Jump by Girls Aloud was chosen by radio listeners as the song to mark the start of their challenge.

Support was provided by Devonshire academy pupils, BBC Children in Need mascot Pudsey Bear and Commonwealth Games mascot Perry the Bull.

Sam Rabone and Gill Jordan, better known as Doreen Tipton, from Lichfield Garrick pantomime Jack & The Beanstalk, were also by the pool.

Devonshire academy pupils have cheered them on

BBC Radio WM sports reporter Katharine Merry, who represented Team GB at two Olympic Games, winning bronze in the 400m at Sydney in 2000, said "it's psychological isn't it, with sport, as much as it is physical?".

Asked how they could keep it going in the pool, the runner said: "Try and count down in numbers, in terms of lengths that you are doing, take the breaks when needed, break it into little chunks."