Guernsey Press

Islander plans Jersey-France swim for baby foundation

TO GIVE back to a local charity, one islander plans to swim from Jersey to France to raise some money.

Published
Tim Pond is training to swim from Jersey to France raisisng money for the Prilaux Premature Baby Foundation charity. (25475423)

When Tim Pond’s daughter Maicie Trebert-Pond was born, she spent the first week of her life in the special baby care unit at the hospital.

‘My wife and I saw first-hand how much work Jo and Andy Priaulx and the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation team do to help parents and babies, supporting them through a tough time in their life,’ he said.

‘The pair of us have helped for eight years now and still want to. The money raised will be spent on equipment at the PEH as well as the two flats in Southampton where the families can stay while their baby is in Southampton Hospital.’

Mr Pond has completed a fundraising swim for the charity before, in 2013, and wanted to do another to raise more money.

‘This is a swim which is known for being hard and a good swim for people aspiring to do the English Channel,’ he said.

‘I’ve been sea swimming for about six years now. I swim with a group of fellow sea swimmers that swim all year round in trunks, no wetsuits. Along with this I swim with the Guernsey Masters in the pool for extra training in the winter.’

After roughly a year’s training, Mr Pond hopes to take to the water on 24 August, weather dependent, for the internationally recognised swim route.

‘I was seriously ill at the beginning of 2018 with sepsis and spent 11 days in an induced coma,’ he explained.

‘[So] this is a huge challenge for my fitness physically and mentally – the whole swim makes me nervous, but determined to succeed.’

So far Mr Pond has raised about £700 and hopes with the support of islanders he can double that amount.

. To donate, visit https://giving.gg/donate/Event/0/Donate-to-Guernsey-Charitable-Event.