Two colleagues working at a Hull city centre gym are testing their own fitness with a swimming fundraiser.
Guy Robinson, duty manager at Nuffield Health Hull, and Jack Allott, a personal trainer, will take to the pool at the Kingston Park gym to swim 5k – the length of one of the D-Day landing beaches – in aid of the veterans’ charity, Help for Heroes.
Guy said: “We’ve organised it as part of the VE Day celebrations. Myself and Jack will be swimming the length of one of the D-Day beaches, Utah, at 5k.
“I’ve never done anything like it before and I thought, why not? We do have veterans who come in and use the pool and the gym and have a free coffee.”
The plan is for the swim to take place in June, with Guy starting the swim off on the 3rd and Jack taking over the day after. “It’s going to be a total of 284 lengths with us doing half each.
“We hope to have lots of people supporting us, including some of the veterans. We’d like to let more people know we are here, too, as we are tucked away on the retail park.”
Guy said: “I don’t tend to swim much. I’ve done the London Marathon and a half-marathon before, and all sorts, so I’m fit, but I’m more of a runner than a swimmer and I am very ‘pull-and-push’ at the gym.”
A JustGiving appeal page, titled Operation “Utah Swim” VE Celebration, said: “Every day, countless veterans and their families face battles that are often invisible to the outside world. They endure painful injuries, mental trauma, and the challenges of disability and isolation. These struggles can feel overwhelming, but there is hope.
“Utah Swim VE Celebration is a personal swimming event dedicated to raising funds for this vital cause. The target is £250, and every penny raised will go directly towards helping those who have served our country.
“Together, we can empower veterans and their families to overcome their toughest battles. Join us in making a lasting impact by supporting this important initiative.”
Help for Heroes provides life-changing services that support brave individuals in their time of need. From comprehensive physical and mental health care to assistance with welfare and medical needs, its mission is to ensure that no veteran or their family has to face these challenges alone.
On VE Day (Thursday, May 8), the gym ran a number of fitness challenges and a quiz and held a minute’s silence, as part of the commemoration. Earlier this week, Nuffield Health Hull held events and a display as part of Bee Lady Day, in honour of the late Hull fundraiser Jean Bishop.
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