8:00am Thursday 21st August 2008
By Suruchi Sharma
A keen swimmer raising money for a spinal cord injuries charity will swim the length of the English Channel at a pool in Borehamwood.
Larry Juter, 36, is to take part in the Aspire Channel Swim by swimming 22 miles, the distance of the Channel, at The Venue leisure centre, in Elstree Way.
The challenge starts on September 15 and has to be completed by December 7. The sponsorship money raised will help Aspire reach their national target of £500,000.
In its ninth year, the fundraiser is the largest annual sponsored swimming event in the UK with thousands of people across the country participating.
Mr Juter, a system support engineer from Borehamwood, has taken part in the challenge for the past four years.
He said: “Doing the event for me is down to a mixture of supporting a charity I believe in and also to keep my personal fitness levels up. My goal this year will be to complete the 22 miles in under five weeks.
“It’s a great feeling to know that although I benefit from something that others are too. True giving is taking the shirt off your own back and giving it to someone else. That was a quote given to me by my late grandfather who was a very keen swimmer.”
An Aspire spokeswoman added: “Spinal cord injury has a devastating effect on the 1,200 people who become paralysed each year. The individual affected will lose muscle and sensory control and the vast majority become full time wheelchair users for the rest of their lives.
“Whether you’re five years old, 105 years old or anywhere in between join this swimming challenge either on your own like Larry or with a group of family or friends and in no time at all you will cover the 22 mile distance of the English Channel whilst raising funds and awareness for Aspire.”
To take part in the Aspire Channel Swim contact Rosie Cotton, Aspire Channel Swim, Freepost Ang40106, Stanmore, HA7 4BR, call 08000 370 880 or visit www.aspirechannelswim.co.uk.
To sponsor Mr Juter visit www.justgiving.com/larryjuter
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