Jack planning ‘Channel dip’ with a difference

Jack planning ‘Channel dip’ with a difference

30 October 2013

SWIMMING the English Channel may seem like a few too many miles for most people, but not for Downpatrick student Jack Teggart.

Jack is not planning to cover himself in goose fat and swim from Dover to Calais, but is instead aiming to swim the distance between the two Channel ports in his local leisure centre pool.

The De La Salle year nine student set himself the goal of swimming 22 miles in 12 weeks to complete the Aspire Channel Swim and he is already half way there.

The Aspire charity helps people with spinal injuries and is dependant on income from fundraising and charitable work as it receives no government funding.

The charity’s aim is to help people with spinal injuries achieve an equal place in society by providing support services such as Aspire housing, technology, independent living advice and Aspire grants.

Jack has received support and sponsorship from his teachers and fellow students, including money raised at a bun sale organised by the senior students at De La Salle.

The fundraising has helped Jack to raise £300 so far and he has made a presentation to his class to raise awareness of the charity and explain how the money raised will be spent.

Jack is proud of the help he has received and grateful to the school for supporting him during the swim which is taking place from September 9 to December 1.

To follow Jack’s progress as he swims the channel, or to contribute to his Just Giving account visit www.aspirechannelswim.co.uk/JackTeggart