Strait Swimming for Charity

Two Gibraltar based traders from Refco Trading Services are currently in training to swim across the Gibraltar Strait from Spain to Morocco in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Stuart Hedley and Dave Kaemmerlen intend to complete the 18 – 22 kilometre crossing at the beginning of September this year. Hedley, a previous non-regular swimmer, started training in November 2004. Prior to the crossing he believes he will have swum 15,000 laps of the Gibraltar indoor pool, translating to 375 kilometres, or 160 hours. On top of this, open water training will amount to a further 40 hours.
‘This is going to be a massive ordeal for me and I won’t have swum this distance in open water prior to the attempt in September,’ says Hedley.

‘According to the records of the Gibraltar Strait Swimming Association, only 124 people have completed the swim under the same rules (basically no wetsuit and no shark cage). This is a relatively small number compared to other endurance events such as swimming the English Channel, which has been completed by 600 people, and climbing Mount Everest, which has been achieved by over 1000,’ he added.
Kaemmerlen, previously a college swimmer for Tufts University, Connecticut, is currently resting an injured shoulder but fully intends to be fit before September.
The pair have so far been pledged over £50,000 for Cancer Research UK and believe they should be able to raise as much as £75,000 in total.

‘We chose Cancer Research UK as the beneficiary due to family members and friends who have suffered and those who are currently battling with the disease. We are fundraising in conjunction with the local branch of Cancer Research UK,’ said Hedley.

Further details of the swim can be found at website www.straitswim05.com and direct donations can be made on-line at the Just Giving website www.justgiving.co.uk/straitswim05