Keith Mayes is taking on open-water swimming challenges in support of the Hungerford CHAIN charity, vehicle appeal

STOP PRESS: The first of the 3 charity swimming challenges has been completed! The 750m at the Cotswold Big Swim event 14th June 2025!!

I am a volunteer driver, coordinator and enthusiastic supporter of the CHAIN Handybus that serves Hungerford and the surrounding region. CHAIN enables journeys to hospitals, therapy centres and shops, as well as facilitating day-trips for local groups. CHAIN is a vital charity getting people out of their homes and to essential destinations, and in the process, combating isolation, loneliness and depression. CHAIN is entirely reliant on donations and the combined efforts of its volunteers, many of whom use their own vehicles to get passengers to vital appointments. CHAIN has two specialist vehicles, the Chairman for single wheelchair passengers, and the Handybus, which is the mainstay of our multi-passenger transport. The Handybus has been a great asset over recent years, but it is due to be replaced in 2025, with the hope that we can afford to replace the Chairman in 2026.

This presents a major fundraising challenge for CHAIN; which I am committed to help with my transport-related sponsored challenges. Back in April 2023 my challenge was on foot, when I ran the London Marathon. Then on 26th May 2024 I completed the Ride London-Essex 103 mile cycle ride. For 2025 I am taking to open-water swimming for what will be my greatest challenge so far; and hopefully my completion of the London “Classics” (London Marathon, Ride-London, Serpentine two-mile Swim).

The plan is to swim 0.75km and then 1.9km at the Cotswold Big Swim events of 14th June and 6th September 2025, then the main challenge of two miles (3.2km) at the Serpentine Swim 20th September 2025. However, just committing this to words already scares me. My swimming feats so far have just been splashing about on family holidays. At present, I can only swim breaststroke, and my attempts to learn crawl are making slow progress. I have never swum in an open-water lake, never used a wetsuit, never swum the required distances, even in a pool, and the thought of swimming in a lake for a couple of hours without being able to touch the bottom is terrifying! If I throw in the fact that I really don't like cold water then you can understand why I feel this is my greatest physical/mental fundraising challenge todate. There is a long path to get from where I am now to where I need to be. I am advised to swim in a pool two or three times a week until April, and then make the transition to lake swimming.

Personally, I need every ounce of support and encouragement to meet this challenge and quieten the voices in my head, that are suggesting numerous good reasons for me to back out! Please consider making a donation to CHAIN, and every one of you that does will be boosting my motivation to succeed, and I will imagine you all cheering me on!

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