A Coleg Gwent Lecturer is taking the plunge and swimming 22 miles for charity.
Cyril Williams, a brickwork Lecturer based at Coleg Gwent’s Ebbw Vale Campus, is taking part in the Aspire charity’s Channel Swim, completing lengths of his local pool over 12 weeks to raise money for people with spinal cord injuries in the UK and Ireland.
Speaking about what motivated him to take up the challenge, Cyril said: “I know from first-hand experience how spinal injuries can affect people’s lives and how challenging it is. Many years ago I took on a young lad from school as an apprentice bricklayer and three weeks into the apprenticeship he broke his back in a motorcycle accident. He went on to represent Great Britain in the Paralympics, raised a family and I was best man in his wedding.
“Equipment is expensive; each lightweight wheelchair costs £4000. Monies raised will go towards buying these lightweight wheelchairs so that people can live more independent lives.”
Cyril is nearing the end of his challenge, which began in September: “I swim at least three times a week in my local pool at Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, and so far I’ve completed 960 lengths, which is about 20 miles. Effectively it means I’m just of the coast of Calais!”
So far Cyril has raised over £70, but hopes to reach his target of over £100.
To find out more about the challenge visit www.aspire.org.uk.
