An Epsom swimmer will swim the British Channel in memory of his life-long friend next week to raise money for charity.

Mickey Helps, 50, of Longdown Lane North, Epsom was shocked when he heard his close friend and former captain of his water polo team, Mark Shepherd, had died of a heart attack at just 53 in January.

The two men had grown up together and shared a love of swimming and water polo, playing for many different successful teams over the years.

The planning project manager and family man knew instantly he wanted to do something for charity the British Heart Foundation.

Mr Shepherd’s death marked the beginning of a three-stage swimming journey swum in his honour.

Mr Helps hopes to raise £15,000 for the foundation by completing three of Europe’s toughest swimming challenges.

From April: Epsom swimmer Mickey Helps to take on three of Europe's toughest swims for British Heart Foundation

Already having completed the eight-mile Gibraltar Straits in May, he now faces crossing the 21-mile wide British Channel and the three-mile Dardanelles Straits.

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Mickey on the boat ready to swim the Gibraltar Straits

Mr Helps has already swum 400 miles in training, and still has two more stages to complete with the third being the Dardanelles Straits from Europe to Asia on August 30. He has undergone a specialised training schedule, parts of which he has dedicated to swimming in the sea in Brighton to acclimatise to water temperatures that he says can bring swimmers to the edge of hypothermia.

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Mickey Helps and his friend Mark Pollard after swimming the Gibraltar Straits

Mr Helps explained that being in open water for long periods of time is both a physical and mental challenge, but one that as an experienced swimmer, he has learnt to deal with.

He said: “It is about dealing with the cold and dealing with the boredom.

“When you swim the Channel, you can be in the water from 12 to 20 hours, with the average being about 14 hours. You have to find a way to get yourself through.”

The community is pulling together in support of the cause and has so far raised more than £6,500 in memory of a man that was well-loved.

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A mutual friend of Mr Helps and Mr Shepherd’s, David Leach from Sainsbury’s on Kiln Lane in Epsom, has enabled the team to offer support, donating kit and hoodies (pictured above) for what will be a cold week at sea.

Mr Leach said: “I’m particularly proud to be able to do something to help Mickey because I think what his is doing is particularly crazy.

“He knows that and we both think the challenge is fittingly adventurous and inspiring for the memory of such a big character as Mark”.

Mr Helps plans to swim the British Channel sometime between August 9 and August 16, depending on the weather and sea conditions.

To find out more and how to donate, visit thehelps.co.uk