Breaking news on 5th July!

4 weeks ago I was able to start swimming again at Salford Quays and although this is a shorter preparation time than ideal I am keen to try to ‘get it done’ before a second lockdown has a chance to stop things again. The adapted challenge is a straight 10K (well,  round and round in quite big circles really). I will be aiming for 2 hours 46 minutes 40 seconds, which was when the initial challenge would have ended, but this is without push offs at the end of each length. The world’s fastest swimmers get to 1 hour 50 minutes (similar to a marathon at running) so hopefully within 1 hour of them. So on 18th July at 8 a.m. I will take to Dock 9 at Salford Quays under the watchful eye of USwim Openwater. Here's hoping for a not too windy day.

I'll be swimming along with Matt Harrop and Emma Tonge (as per photo) on the day, but we may split as the swim goes on.

The Million Challenge was to have been undertaken on Sat 4th April 2020, but had to be postponed because Covid 19.

In April 2019 I had my left kidney removed at Manchester Royal Infirmary to go to someone who needed it to keep living for longer.

In 2016 I did this swim challenge (the original Million Challenge) with a couple of friends as a challenge to prepare for the season. I tried to do it again in early 2018 but found I couldn’t hack the mental and physical training needed. If I can do it this year then it shows that within 12 months of what was a fairly major operation I am as fit and able as I was before it.

Hopefully it will show that although kidney donation takes some recovering from you are the same able person again afterwards and I hope others, who may be considering organ donation, will find it a positive message that helps their confidence. 

I’m going to find it hard as it will be near the limit of my capabilities as a 66 year old. Having others joining in will make it easier mentally and physically on the day, thank you Emma and Matt. The greater challenge is that facing those with kidney disease / damage and those looking for the cure, this will help them. Money for the charity will be worthwhile but mainly I want to raise awareness of organ donation and showing that it doesn't affect you long term.

The original challenge was to swim 100 metres 100 times, pushing off each 100 seconds:  100 X 100 X 100 = 1 Million. Our aim is to raise 1 million pennies (£10,000). Please help.

A large number of the population have chronic kidney disease and this is only going to get worse as we put on weight and live longer. Whilst it is more likely to affect you when you get older, all ages are at risk and can develop kidney failure needing dialysis and possibly a kidney transplant. Kidneys for Life are looking for kidneys to last a lifetime with their research.