CHARITY SWIMS SWIM FOR GOOD
Every issue we share the stories of just some of the people who use their passion for swimming to benefi t good causes…
INSPIRATIONAL… OR MAD? Adam Acland heard about Aspire’s Channel Swim Challenge on a Sunday lunchtime, and by the following day he had covered the entire distance – 36km – at Hampton Lido. Inspirational, or just plain mad? Normally a swimmer would have up to 12 weeks to complete the challenge, knocking off a few miles at a time and gradually accumulating the total. But when Acland checked his diary he realised the only time he’d have to commit to swimming before the
deadline was the following day. So Acland, a swimming teacher and coach by profession, set his alarm for an early start, packed his trunks, some Vaseline to reduce chafi ng and a couple of bot les of sports drinks, which was all he had in the house. His nutrition planning was a lit le weak, as he freely admits. “I phoned a friend and asked him to bring more supplies, but he didn’t get the message until too late,” says Acland. Hampton Pool is 36 metres, so to keep things simple Acland set himself a slightly over- distance target of 36km, or 1,000 lengths. At around 6.20am in the morning he started swimming. “The fi rst 300 lengths or so were great – I concentrated on my stroke, counted lengths and stopped every 100 to take a quick drink and mark up the whiteboard.” The whiteboard also served to inform other swimmers what Acland was up to, to save him the trouble of explaining his mission. Word soon got out about Acland’s ‘channel’ bid. A couple of masters swimmers from Teddington Swimming Club popped in for some extra training and accompanied Acland between lengths 400 and 500, and realised something was wrong when Acland’s pace dropped off suddenly and dramatically. “I hit the wall,” says Acland. “Clearly two bot les of sports drink wasn’t enough.” Steve Folsom, one of the swimmers, saved the day by conjuring up a handful of energy gels and another drink. Acland necked the gels and aſt er 60 or so lengths began to feel bet er. But his problems weren’t over. “I was swimming around 100 lengths per hour. At around mid-day it dawned on me that I had 400 lengths to go and only four hours to complete them, as I had a class to teach at 4.15pm, and I was slowing down.” Acland pressed on but found it increasingly diffi cult to keep count or even think. He says his stroke count dropped from around 20 per length to 50. Luckily the remaining energy gels saw him through, while his friend Christine Berry counted his fi nal 250 lengths, the last of which he swam but erfl y. Another friend delivered him to his class with a few minutes to spare. “I felt a bit dizzy and dehydrated, but not too bad,” he says. Support Adam, by visiting
justgiving.com/adam-acland. Sign up for a Channel swim of your own by going to
aspire.org.uk/aspire- channel-swim.aspx
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ACCIDENT OF FATE Mike Nyeholt was an elite distance swimmer who achieved ‘All American’ status, world rankings and three National Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming team titles at the University of Southern California (USC). In 1981, three years aſt er graduating, Nyeholt broke his neck in a motorcycle accident, leaving him in a wheelchair and changing his life forever. Mike’s accident inspired his swimming friends to organize a swimathon to raise money for an adapted van. Nyeholt recognized that his athletic background, the support of others, his college degree and work experience helped him move on to the point where he could not just survive, but thrive. His vision created, developed and has sustained Swim With Mike – the Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund – for more than 32 years, in which time it has helped 119 athletes from the USA and abroad who have sustained life-changing injuries. Mike serves as chairman of Swim With Mike, and has personally raised more than $2 million so far. The swimathon continues annually at USC and over the years has expanded to seven diff erent satellite events at sites around the USA. In 2012 Swim With Mike jumps into the big pool – the open water. Open water swimmers will have the opportunity to raise funds by swimming the Waikiki Roughwater Swim in Hawaii and Slam the Dam at Lake Mead, Nevada. Mike, who swims several times a week, inspired scholarship recipient and paraplegic Nate Higgins to swim the Alcatraz Sharkfest, where he raised both money for Swim With Mike as well as awareness of what people with disabilities can do. Nate swam the 1.5-mile course sans wetsuit in 15C waters using only breaststroke. He went on to compete in the 2011 Pan Paralympics, and has his sights set on the 2012 Paralympics. Nate’s ‘bucket list’ of open water swims continues to grow, as he completes his masters degree while working full time. To donate to Swim With Mike visit
swimwithmike.org. You can also register here to participate in the Masters Challenge, and stand the chance of winning a part-funded trip to Hawaii for the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (
wrswim.com).
The organisers of the US-based Swim With Mike charity
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