The Henley Swim has announced a partnership with Aspire for its Henley Classic event on Sunday 28th June 2015.

The Henley Classic is a 2.1km up-river swim along the course of the Henley Royal Regatta and traditionally starts at dawn with a torch-lit procession to the riverbank.

Through its projects and programmes, Aspire offers practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK so that they can lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, in work places and in leisure time.

“We are really excited to be working with Aspire” says Jeremy Laming, co-founder of Henley Swim. “Spinal cord injury has a devastating effect on the 1,200 people who become paralysed each year. Aspire do an amazing job supporting these people and their families. It is a natural partnership, as much of Aspire’s fundraising is already done through swimming.” The charity raises money through a range of open water swims, including Channel relays, Loch Ness relays and Solent swims. Participants in the Henley Classic can now pledge to raise funds for Aspire when they sign up to the event.

Brian Carlin, CEO of Aspire, says: “Every eight hours in the UK someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury. Each year, thousands of people swim to raise funds for Aspire through the variety of swimming events we offer. This enables us to continue to provide and expand the services we offer to spinal cord injured people, helping them move from injury to independence, and we are therefore delighted to add the Henley Classic as one of our key swimming events for 2015.”

To sign up to swim the Henley Classic email Andrew.