Paul Parrish, Aspire's Director of Fundraising and Marketing, is once again taking on the iconic Arch to Arc challenge - the hardest triathlon in the world - but this time as part of a six person relay team. The team will run 87 miles from Marble Arch in London to Dover, swim 21 miles across the English Channel from Dover to France and then cycle 181 miles from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.  Weather and tides permitting, the team will set off on 1st September in a strict rotation of an hour each of running, swimming and cycling until they reach Paris.

Sponsor Paul

In 2014 Paul became not only the 20^th person but also, aged 49 at the time, the oldest person to successfully complete the Arch to Arc as a solo. Paul has taken on many other challenges to raise funds for Aspire, including multiple relay Channel swims and an epic solo cycle from St Albans to Armenia.

Paul says,

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to join the six-person relay team taking on this massive challenge.  Although I have done previous challenges, this one makes me feel very nervous as I thought I had put my endurance days firmly behind me. It will be a huge test of willpower, sleep deprivation and physical endurance but I’m in a team with a fantastic group of men and women who have all previously taken part in swimming challenges with Aspire and I know we will support each other throughout the challenge. 

“I am excited to be once again raising funds for Aspire, which helps spinal injured people move from injury to independence, and for whom I have worked for over a decade. For anyone feeling inspired to take on a challenge, and to get a feel for how far we will be swimming during our Arch to Arc, why not sign up to the Aspire Channel Swim and swim 22 miles in your local swimming pool this autumn. You’ll be getting fit and helping people with spinal cord injury. Who knows, if you enjoy it, you may be swimming the Channel for real one day.” 

Sponsor Paul 

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