Worthing teacher ‘swims The Channel’ using a bungee rope

Richard Challinor, who teaches IT at Chatsmore Catholic High School in Goring, completed the Channel challenge by swimming in a pop-up pool in his back garden.

He finished with a swim in the sea at East Worthing on his 50th birthday and said he highly recommended it.

Mr Challinor’s swim took 26 days and it has raised £570 so far.

He said: “I needed to swim 1,351 strokes per day. This is equivalent to swimming 54.04 lengths at Splashpoint, i.e. 1,351 strokes, using a tether and a small pool in my back garden.”

The swim challenge followed a call from the school for all staff and students to get involved in the 2.6 Challenge to do something for charity, either the school’s own fundraising efforts for families in need or a national charity.

Mr Challinor said: “General fundraising has been hit very hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of fundraising events have been cancelled and many charities, particularly smaller ones, are struggling to maintain services because of this huge reduction in income.

“This impacts all sectors of society, from children to the elderly, as well as the vital work in areas such as palliative care, serious diseases, mental health, housing support, food supplies and countless others that charities support.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richards-26-challenge341 to support Mr Challinor.

Chatsmore students and staff have been creative in their ways to raise money, including burpees and making a rainbow cake with 26 layers.

On Thursday, July 9, a team of 19 staff will take part in a running relay, covering a 70km route that took in every student’s postcode to remind the children they are still part of the school community and the staff miss them every day.

So far, more than £4,000 has been raised. Visit donatemyschool.com/chatsmorecatholichighschool2244 https://donatemyschool.com/chatsmorecatholichighschool2244 for more information.

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