Tuesday 15th August 2023
UK
401
% split
2018 marked our swim group founder, Lionel Spittle's 65th birthday and sadly 5 years since losing his wife Linda to a brain tumour, so to both celebrate and commemorate he decided to take on a personal "65 challenge" to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity.
Thanks to the generosity of friends and family he managed to raise in excess of £5000.
Inevitably he was asked if he would be doing a "66 challenge"..... Lionel declined, but said he would do a "70 challenge"
And so it began...
From a very early age Lionel always dreamt of swimming the English Channel but with swimming not being his strongest discipline he decided that a relay would be the ideal challenge. If only he could find 3 other swimmers to join him, he thought he would struggle.... but the response from his Swim buddies was amazing (one of which has been swimming with him for over 30 years) resulting in us now having TWO teams of 4, Brainwaves and Team BCH with ages ranging from 30 - 70.
One of our team mates Caroline Jones has a young daughter, Isabel who at the age of 15 was discovered to have 3 tumours on her brain and was eventually diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NOMSD) the treatment and care she has received from the Birmingham Children's Hospital has been tremendous
We will be splitting all money raised equally between The Brain tumour charity and Birmingham Children's Hospital
So, in August this year we will be attempting TWO relay Channel swims and just to spice it up one of the teams will be hoping to make the Guinness book of world records with the oldest combined mixed relay team of 4.
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raised of £10000 target
by 158 supporters
View Fundraising Series
raised of £ target
Sue A
Good luck Di and team! A great cause and I hope it goes well
Sinead Partridge
In memory of my brother Sean who died of a brain tumour in 2013 -💕
Phillippa and John Cooper
Good luck team Lionel! You are all amazing.
Mary Solomon
Looks like the training is going well for your latest amazing challenge. Bravo!
Dawn Crowther
Fantastic challenge. Wonderful charities. Good luck all. Smash it! 💥 🙌🏼 💜 xxx
Easter raffle +football card staffs counties
Caroline and team wishing you all the best with your swim and fundraising
Iain Kenyon
Two amazing causes and a set of amazing people. All the best Iain (from early Bert’s)
Sandeep RANDHAWA
Good luck Lionel and team. Keep up the amazing job. You all are inspirational 👍
Surendra & Kokila Vaidya (Sunny Swimming)
Lionel, Martin, Dave & Paul. It is fantastic that you are all raising money for two amazing causes. What a wonderful achievement it will be swimming the english channel. I'm sure Linda will be looking from heaven cheering you on. I'm sure the weather and sea will be calm on the day. Good luck and best wishes.
Esther - Pillaton Hall Farm Swimmer
Caroline and team, good luck, you're amazing!
Rob B
Good luck Dave and the rest of the team I hope all goes well on the day
Tom Archer
I hope your garmin is working on the day Caroline good luck
Jo & Clive
Lionel go smash it you are an inspiration to us all. Good Luck x
Matt
Thank you for joining the quiz this evening. Get that World Record! M
Nelam
Good luck Lionel and team. Lionel you are such an inspiration this is amazing charity supporting young children . You will smash it . Sending lots of positive energy and good luck to you and all the team.xx
Kerry & Gareth
Best of luck Lionel and the team. Sounds like quite a challenge! We know the Brain Tumour charity is very close to your heart and is such a worthy cause. Wishing you all well
Ian Hansell
Best of luck Lionel with your fundraising and the swim ! 🙏
Wendy Andrews
Amazing 🤩 People you are just brilliant - will be tracking your journey 🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏆
Mandy Garrott
Good Luck Diane, Caroline and the team. You're mad but inspirational. xx
Karl Armstrong
Hi Dave, Good luck with the swim and look forward to seeing the pics, lol
Jen Powell
I’m loving watching you train and getting ready for your swim. I know you will smash it!!
Steph Dyras
Wishing you all the very best for your epic challenge. The Brain Tumour Charity is especially close to my heart, having lost a very good friend to this cruel disease. Sending good wishes to you all.
Jan
Good luck Di and team-mates xx Such an amazing challenge and such worthy charities!
None
I have been purchasing swimming costumes from Allens of Kingsbury for many years and, when I read about your challenges in an email from them, I was moved to donate. Approaching 70 years of age myself, I would not relish a Channel Swim! Good luck to all involved.
Martin & Jayne
What an amazing challenge, for a great charity. Go Lionel! You and the team are gonna smash it. Wishing you all the very best of luck. 🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊
Emma Taylor
Go Caroline and team, I admire you all so much, as a family we donate each year on our daughter Penny’s birthday in her memory as she was extremely well looked after at BCH this seems a fab cause this year ❤️
Lynn
Good luck Caroline and team. As your cousin I know once you set your mind to an endeavour you’re determined to succeed! Proud of you xx
Julia Condon
Have a great time all! You’ll be amazing and what a great cause.
D Hill
All the very best to you all, you're gonna smash it 💪🏊🏊♀️🏊♂️
Gobind Rai
Good luck everyone, nothing but admiration for all of you.
Scott mckenzie
Our channel team ‘TACKSMEN’ salute you Lionel and co !! Go and smash it! Here’s a donation to help !!!
Maxine Sandland
Amazing challenge for great causes. I am in n awe even of the training you are doing let alone the challenge. I have no fohbt each and everyone of you will smash it. Stay warm x
None
All the best to Lionel and the team on your epic undertaking. I hope you are successful.
Amanda Dunning
Go Make History & Enjoy ! Fab charities proud of my Swimming Buddies
Justine Doody
Go smash it swim buddies. We are all so very proud of you 🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♂️🏊♀️🏊♂️
Victoria Emery
Best of luck with the Channel swim- such an amazing thing to do xx
Lorraine Gorman
Good Luck Caroline and to you all 💦💪💗 x x I’m sure you will smash it x
Michelle
Carolime, you are amazing. Well done you all, enjoy the event.
adrian thomas
All the very best for this amazing challenge Knobby and friends
Paul Cox
Good luck all, phenomenal effort and something I can’t comprehend given multiple lengths of a pool is challenging. Hope you get good conditions on the day.
Anthea Jones
Good luck Diane and the rest of the team. From Russell, Anthea and Max Jones xx
Denise Robinson
Good Luck Lionel and to the rest of your team. Go smash it and enjoy the experience x
Laura Bentley
Good luck Lionel and Team, you’ll smash it I’m sure. From Laura @ Central Baths x
Kirsty, Dean & Liv
Best of luck Kev & team - amazing achievement ! Xx
Chloe & Neil (Team Ballett)
What an awesome experience for you all. Enjoy and smash it 💥
Anna, Ant, Grace and Abi
Wishing you the best of luck! You are doing an incredible thing and for a great cause too x
Sheridan
Good Luck Swim Buddies !! You will be awesome 😍 Cheering for you all the way.
Steve Ingleby
Another great challenge Lionel 👏 for 2 great charities. Age is just a number mate, you are a great inspiration to many people, and you're maturing like a very, very fine wine, even though you prefer your rum ! Keep up the training, and you and the 'team' will smash this.
08-11-2020