Charity worker raised thousands swimming across the Channel (From Your Local Guardian)

Charity worker raised thousands swimming across the Channel

10:30am Friday 30th July 2010 in

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A 27-year-old charity worker raised £8,500 swimming across the English Channel in an arduous 12 hours and 45 minutes.

Tom Godec, who works at International Needs, has been nominated for a Croydon Champions award as Charity Volunteer of the year. He completed the tough challenge on July 23.

Mr Godec said he was thrilled to be nominated for the award. He was helped with his training by the oldest man to swim the channel, 77-year-old Joe Smith from Lancashire.

The money he raised will be used to build a school in the community of Kiyindi in Uganda.

After just seven months of training Mr Godec braved cold water, gale winds and jelly fish.

He was only allowed breaks of between 15 and 20 seconds to eat or have a drink of water.

He said the toughest part of his swim was approaching the French coastline with the knowledge he still had few hours of swimming to do.

When the 27-year-old reached his destination he let out a shout of joy, throwing his arms around his team members.

Shocked and relieved to have succeeded, he said: "The swim had been an incredible experience, very tough, but with the amazing support that I have had from the crew, friends and family and all who have sponsored me, there was no way I was going to give up."