Paulton father to swim Channel for charity

A 46-year-old father of two from Paulton will be embarking on the challenge of a lifetime in August when he plans to swim the English Channel from Shakespeare Beach in Dover to Cap Grisnez in France, a distance of 22 miles.

Jamie Shattock will be swimming the 22 miles from Shakespeare Beach in Dover to Cap Grisnez in France in August and is hoping the venture raise £15,000 for charity.

The fund raising venture is Mr Shattock's way of saying thank you to a group of organisations who supported his family after his younger daughter, Georgiana, was born in 2003 with an undiagnosed neuromuscular condition. She spent practically the whole of the first year of her life in hospital during which time there was wonderful help from Bristol Children's Hospital, Lifetime who supplied regular overnight care and daytime respite and Children's Hospice South West who were involved in helping prepare for Georgiana's homecoming and offered respite breaks to the family. He has already raised £2,500 for the Children's Hospice through running in the London Marathon in 2005 and now hopes to amass a further £5,000 for them together with a similar amount for The Grand Appeal for the Bristol Children's Hospital and Lifetime Children's Trust.

The swim takes place during the week of August 17 to 23 and Mr Shattock is only allowed to wear a pair of swimming trunks, a swimming hat and goggles, with a smothering of grease. He has done the majority of his open water training in Dover harbour where many cross-channel swimmers meet and train each weekend. He has also been invited to join two very active open water swimming groups and he will be doing the majority of his open water training this season spending Saturdays at Weymouth and Sundays at Budleigh Salterton, leading up to his cross-channel swim.

To keep his swimming going during the week Mr Shattock does regular early morning and a couple of evening swims at Aqua Terre Leisure Centre in Midsomer Norton, weekends at Bath University 50m pool and attends twice weekly evening training sessions with Keynsham Masters Swimming Club at Keynsham Leisure Centre.

On the day, aboard the Viking Princess, Jamie's support team will be his wife, Cathie, dad Keith, brother Glenn, two uncles John and Chris and his support swimmer Nick. Also aboard will be the pilot and his brother and an official from the CSA.

His wife Cathie said: "This will be a lifetime achievement for Jamie and if, in the process, he can raise this sizeable amount of money for these very special charities so much the better. Jamie is very determined and focused on what lies ahead. It's all about being mentally and physically prepared and taking that first step into the English Channel knowing that everything possible has been done to make it a successful solo swim."

The adventure will cost £3,000 and Mr Shattock is hoping to raise sponsorship for half the amount.

Anyone who can help Mr Shattock raise the funds he needs or would like further information should call 07765 407987.