A man from Hove aims to be the first deaf person to swim solo across the English Channel.
Andrew Rees set off from Dover this morning to raise money for the GB Deaf Swimming Club to support the team selected to compete in the 2017 Deaflympic Games in Samsun, Turkey.
Mr Rees represented Great Britain at swimming and water polo in the 1985 and 1989 Deaflympics.
He said: “I have been working hard with my coach, Fiona Southwell, to complete this challenge because I want to give something back to deaf swimming.
“I aim to swim the English Channel with just my support boat, the Louise Jane, near by.
“Under the Channel Swimming Association rules, I am only allowed to wear swimming trunks, one hat and a pair of goggles (no wetsuit!)”
His Just Giving page says: “The English Channel is the Everest of swimming. In fact more people have successfully climbed Everest than swim the channel.”
To date, no British deaf swimmer has successfully completed a solo swim across the Channel.
His Just Giving page says: “Currently, our Deaflympic swimmers do not receive funding and have to raise their own costs to travel and compete.
“Please help Andrew to raise £6,000 to help the team and make it easier for those selected to focus on their swimming preparation rather than having to worry about raising funds.”
To donate, click here.
