This week Aspire launched its annual Aspire Channel Swim and it has already become the biggest year ever for the event.  4,455 swimmers have so far signed up to swim, compared to 3,625 at the same time last year, with more signing up every day.  The fundraising total currently stands at £71,860, more than double the amount that had been raised during the first week of last year’s Swim.  

Aspire is hoping to raise over half a million pounds, which could fund more than 150 lightweight wheelchairs and convert more than 20 flats into accessible accommodation for people with spinal cord injuries.

It’s not too late to sign up to this year’s Aspire Channel Swim, which challenges people of all ages to swim the length of the English Channel over a 12-week period starting from 12 September and finishing on 5 December 2016. It’s free to enter and people can take part as an individual or as part of a team, and complete the 22-mile challenge at their local swimming pool. 

Swimmers record their progress on an online challenge page which keeps track of where they are on their channel crossing and can see where they are on the leaderboard.  Currently at the top of the leaderboard is Tom Clark who has already raised over £3,000.  Tom was invited to visit Aspire last week to meet the team and find out more about the work the charity does to support spinal cord injured people.

Katy Boyd, Aspire Events Manager said: “If you’re looking for a new way to get fit and lose some weight, you’ve been inspired by Team GB to take up swimming or you just want to do something for a good cause, then why not join thousands of people who are already taking part in the Aspire Channel Swim challenge this year.  Every penny raised by fundraisers like Tom will help change lives.”

Click here to sign up today.