A huge well done to the Bude Surf Life Saving Club members who literally swam the Channel yesterday to raise money for Talan’s Trust, a charity founded by Talan’s Mum, Sarah Penny, when her son but Talan Penny sadly lost his battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2017.
Talan was a much loved member of Bude Surf Life Saving Club
Club members Gareth, Graham, Scott, Zerren, Jayney and Mel, pictured below, were gearing up for their relay swim across the English Channel.
The team trained hard throughout the winter and had to pass numerous tests in order to qualify for the event. They swam 21 miles as a relay team but the big challenge was to swim in ‘skins’, swimsuits and swim hats only (no wetsuits).
Photos from Bude SLSC Facebook page
Prior to the swim, the team had to complete a qualifying swim in ‘skins’ which involved swimming for 90 minutes in water below 16 degrees, to get out for an hour and then back in the water for another hour, and log the total distance that they swam. The team all successfully passed the qualifying and medicals and trained hard for the challenge.
Their brave, courageous effort ended in success, and the group have already raised over £3000.
It is wonderful to see their success.
‘We want to raise awareness of childhood cancer and if we can, raise some money for Talans Trust, the charity set up in Talan’s name’, said the swimmers. It looks like they have certainly succeeded in that aim.
You can still contribute on their Just Giving page, which tells the story … and you can read more about why Sarah set up the charity here