Stoneleigh endurance athlete Mick Helps is taking part in the 21st Lake Zurich Marathon Swim race in Switzerland this weekend.

The race, covering an incredible 26.4km (about 17 miles) is expected to attract a high-quality, international field of open-water swimmers.

Helps said: "The event has limited entry and this year is expected to be a fast field of athletes.

"I am really looking forward to the event and meeting up with old and new competitors.

"My first priority is to get round, which, for this sort of distance, should not be taken for granted.

"After that, an under-10 hour swim would be good."

Helps's driving force this year has been his wish to see Disability Challengers benefit from his efforts, and has been campaigning hard for the Guildford-based children's charity.

"They have set themselves some very tough targets of providing care and facilities for disabled children and, through hard work and determination, made the improbable possible," Helps said.

To find out more about the challenge or to sponsor Helps visit thehelps.co.uk