A keen open-water swimmer is taking on his biggest challenge yet in the form of a relay swim across the English Channel.
Andy Slaymaker, 29, will join five others in his team as they tackle the 22-mile stretch across the busy shipping lanes, all while dodging hyperthermia, sea sickness and potential jellyfish stings.
Andy – who lives in Horseshoes Place, Thame, with physiotherapist girlfriend Rachael – is due to take on the watery challenge wearing just trunks on September 1 in aid of charity Aspire, which helps those living with spinal injuries in the UK regain their independence.
Andy, who works as a client manager for Hewlett Packard, said: “I’m quite a sporty person, but it was quite a shock when I first got into the water because you can’t breathe.
“It was so cold and it stung a lot, but after five minutes you go numb and just get on with it. The people we’re raising money for go through a lot worse than that, so it puts it all into perspective.”
Andy and his team mates together aim to raise £12,000 in sponsorship for the charity, and he has already raised £1,600 by himself.
The group have practised on the south coast and had sessions in Guilford Lido, and it is expected the swim will take between 16 and 18 hours to complete.
Visit www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Slaymaker to donate.