Teenagers Swim the Distance of the English Channel for Charity, Raising Nearly £2,000
Four teenagers from The FitzWimarc School in Rayleigh, Essex, completed an extraordinary feat of swimming the equivalent distance of the English Channel to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK. The group—comprising George Nagle, George Coverly, and Jack Minney, all 17, and Henry Dean, 18—took on this challenge as part of a business class project aimed at supporting a meaningful cause.
A Challenging Feat Accomplished in Seven Hours
The teenagers swam 1,352 lengths of the swimming pool at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre on Thursday, completing the challenge in just over seven hours. Starting at 7:30 GMT, the team collectively covered more than 33,000 kilometers, an impressive achievement that underscored their dedication and teamwork.
Choosing a Worthy Cause
Explaining their choice of charity, Coverly shared with BBC Essex:
“We just thought it was a good charity. We’re all men, so it’s something we can all relate to. One in eight men get prostate cancer, so we thought it was a good cause and we’d do something to help out.”
Their efforts have already raised nearly £2,000, bringing attention to the importance of prostate cancer awareness.
Teamwork and Training
Henry Dean, an accomplished swimmer ranked third nationally in his age group for the 50m Butterfly, played a key role in mentoring his teammates. Sharing his expertise, he taught them techniques such as the front crawl to enhance their performance during the event.
“I’ve been teaching them front crawl,” Dean said, highlighting the cooperative spirit that drove the challenge.
Each swimmer completed over 300 lengths, despite varying levels of prior experience. Coverly, who hadn’t swum in years, admitted:
“I’m really sore, all my muscles are really sore. I haven’t swum in about two, three years.”
Nagle added that the outpouring of support from classmates, family, and the local community motivated them throughout the grueling task.
A Milestone Achievement
For Jack Minney, the swim was an opportunity to push his limits. Reflecting on the experience, he described it as a “really good achievement.”
“I used to swim as well but didn’t enjoy it much, so I stopped. So, I’m quite used to swimming, but my body can’t handle it much,” he remarked.
The endeavor showcased not only their physical endurance but also their ability to come together for a shared goal.
A First-of-Its-Kind Project
Their teacher, Manjola Carter, praised the initiative, noting that nothing like it had been attempted during her eight years of teaching:
“They’ve done absolutely amazingly, and it makes me super proud of them all. They wanted to raise money for their chosen charity, so they came up with this amazing idea. I was a bit shocked, thinking ‘will they be able to?’ It’s a long period of time to be swimming, but they did amazing.”
Inspiring Future Efforts
This remarkable act of charity demonstrates the power of determination, collaboration, and community support. By turning a class project into a successful fundraiser, these teenagers have made a significant impact, inspiring others to take on challenges for meaningful causes.
