NHS worker sets up for channel swim

An East Preston NHS worker is gearing up to swim the English Channel in aid of Wadars animal rescue, a Worthing based charity.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Aug 2016, 14:27 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 02:34 BST
Mike Latham from East Preston is to attempt to swim the Channel for the WADARS charity lQUKaSQuWjVgymxY6HnGMike Latham from East Preston is to attempt to swim the Channel for the WADARS charity lQUKaSQuWjVgymxY6HnG
Mike Latham from East Preston is to attempt to swim the Channel for the WADARS charity lQUKaSQuWjVgymxY6HnG

Mike Latham, 48, who works for the NHS mental health service, is set to tackle the challenge on August 9.

The average time for a cross-channel swim is around 15 hours - but is always subject to many variables, including the weather, tides and how busy the shipping lane is.

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Mike, who took up long distance swimming in 2012 when he entered the Arun Ironman Swim, said: “I will just be happy to get across - no matter what my time is.

“I’m actually quite wary of deep water and the critters than live in it – the film Jaws certainly has a lot to answer for, although I don’t think there are no man-eaters in the Channel!”

Mike is hoping to raise several thousand pounds for Wadars animal rescue and the money will help to fund the charity’s work in rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife, as well as re-homing companion animals.

Wadars’ team of animal rescue officers respond to calls from the general public where animals are in peril and during the summer months they can receive more than 60 calls a day.

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He added: “I decided to do the challenge in aid of Wadars because I keep a range of animals myself and am passionate about them and their welfare - especially animals in distress that need help.”

Last year Wadars re-homed almost 400 animals and rescued just under 1,500 wild creatures.

Based in Worthing, they are a leading animal rescue charity, providing care and protection for animals of all kinds since 1969.

This will not be the first endurance tester for Mr Latham, having taken part in several challenging events before - including in a team relay across the Channel and the Zurich Marathon - which involves swimming the length of Lake Zurich, a total of 26.5 kilometres.

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Anyone wishing to make a donation towards Mike’s Channel Challenge can do so via his Virgin Money Giving page uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MIKELATHAM5

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