A Birtley swimmer is preparing to take on an extraordinary 11.5-mile open water swim this month to raise vital funds for Birtley Community Pool.
Paul Snaith, from Birtley, will take to the water at Windermere on Saturday 12 September for the final and longest stage of his Four Lakes Challenge.
The fundraising challenge has seen Paul swim almost 30 miles across four of the Lake District’s most iconic lakes – Derwentwater, Coniston, Ullswater and, finally, Windermere – all in aid of the community-run Birtley Community Pool.
The challenge is designed to raise much-needed operational funds for the pool, which relies heavily on community support, fundraising and volunteers to continue providing an important local swimming facility.
For Paul, the challenge is about more than simply endurance.
A dedicated swimmer and volunteer at Birtley Community Pool, he wanted to do something that would push him to his limits while helping secure the future of a facility that means so much to the local community.
His final swim at Windermere will be a particularly daunting test, with 11.5 miles of open water standing between Paul and the completion of his challenge.
Paul is now appealing to the public, local businesses and organisations to get behind him with a donation, however large or small.
Paul said:
“This has been a huge challenge, both physically and mentally, but knowing that I’m doing it to help Birtley Community Pool has kept me going.
“The final swim in Windermere is 11.5 miles, so it’s going to be a tough one, but I’m determined to finish the Four Lakes Challenge and hopefully raise as much money as possible for the pool.
“Birtley Community Pool is a fantastic community facility and I’d love people to get behind the challenge and help us raise the funds needed to keep it going.”
The Four Lakes Challenge has already attracted support, but with the final swim fast approaching, Paul is hoping for a final surge of donations to give the fundraising total a significant boost.
Every donation, no matter how small, will help support the continued running of Birtley Community Pool.
To support Paul and donate to the Four Lakes Challenge, visit:
www.gofundme.com/f/four-lakes-challenge-to-support-birtley-community-pool
