Charity swim

James Hooper, 54, and his daughter Jenny, 24, swam 2,000 lengths in no fewer than 10 swimming pools in London, Sussex and Hampshire as part of the national Swimathon Weekend to raise money for the Swimathon Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care, which provides care for terminally ill patients in their own homes.

James explained, ‘It took us nearly 16 hours, which meant we were travelling at an average speed of around 2mph. The logistics of competing in 10 different pools and squeezing in meals along the way took some effort, but we managed it with the invaluable help of my wife Jane who supported us en route, and the volunteers who counted our endless laps.’

James isn’t planning to retire from swimming any day soon and is already preparing to take part in a relay race across the English Channel in August to support the Edward Starr Trust, a Hove-based charity which helps children reach their full potential in education, healthcare and sport.