A gay world-record holder will add another major sporting achievement to his belt next year when he attempts to swim the English Channel in August 2010.
37-year-old Angus Macfadyen is currently half-way through his winter training programme which involves swimming in freezing cold temperatures as he prepares to take part in the 20 – 30 mile challenge in order to raise money to bring fresh water to underprivileged children through the charity Lawrence’s Roundabout Well Appeal (LRWA).
The solo Channel swim from Dover to Calais will take Angus between 12 and 16 hours with many obstructions along the way from masses of jelly fish and raw sewage to huge container ships and a turbulent tide.
Angus’s training regime which has already seen him undergo a qualifying sea swim in Dover includes hours and miles of sea and pool swimming each week combined with circuit training, gym work and running - all this fitted in around his work as a cameraman.
Talking about his reasons behind the challenge, Angus told Pink Paper: “There was a big, empty, depressing feeling inside of me when I finished my ten month marathon training so I had to find a way to fill the void – and that’s how I decided to train to swim the Channel.
“The next twelve months will test me to my limits – this will be my personal mountain, the toughest year in my life.”
The Brighton based film-maker is passionate about raising money for underprivileged people and has travelled across the world through his work with the BBC, encountering many difficult and upsetting experiences.
He added: “I have personally seen women walk up to four hours each day to collect water for their family. I have seen fights often break out at the bore-hole as people wait in searing heat for their ration. The use of leaky plastic water carriers means much of the water simply drains away on the long, exhausting journey home. The older a water supply is, the more at risk it becomes of contamination.”
Angus has so far only raised £100 for the LRWA charity but hopes to reach a target of £7,000 - £14,000 in the lead up to the swim.
LRWA pays for ‘Play Pumps’ combining a children’s roundabout with a water pump. As the children play, up to 1,400 litres can be pumped from the well into a holding tank, providing around 2,000 people with fresh water.
“With three years of my life dedicated to this project I hope that the readers will be generous, thoughtful and write a cheque or go online - whatever they have to do to pledge their support and help change others lives forever.” Angus added.
Angus set the 2007 London Marathon world record for the ‘fastest marathon on crutches’ with just the use of his right leg whilst also raising more than £23,000 for a land mines clearance charity.
Photo by Lorenza Ippolito.
www.channelangus.co.uk