Atlantic Challenge

Swimming-Challenge-posterWHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

On the 15th December 2015 ex Guildford City Swimmer David Middleton and 3 University friends Charlie, Joe and Matt will set off to row in a race across the Atlantic Ocean, some 3000 miles in around 45/50 days, rowing for 2 hours, eating and sleeping for 2 hours; then it’s back to rowing again 24 hours a day!!

So while you are enjoying Christmas, they will be battling waves bigger than your house in a 29-foot rowing boat with no Christmas pudding or turkey.

We thought it would be fun to support them as they are doing this for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust and help them raise more money by everybody swimming the Atlantic (in the pool) – that’s swimming 3000 miles in just 7 days!

THE SWIM

We will start on the 31st May and finish on the 6th June.  From Monday 25 May coaches will be handing out Log Books where you can record your meterage each day.  Get it signed by your coach and see if Mum, Dad, Nans, Granddads, Aunties and Uncles will sponsor you for every meter you swim that week.  They only need to sponsor you for .001p per meter as together we are swimming over 4,800,000 meters!

Once you have collected your sponsorship money you can pay it, or ask an adult to pay it for you into the Just Giving Site by clicking here.

Please do not give your sponsorship money to your coach or any member of GCSC staff.

If you have any questions please contact gcsc.membership@hotmail.co.uk.

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS?

Gary Mayrick was the uncle of David Middleton, and for David himself, he was one of the main inspirations for attempting the Atlantic challenge. Gary was a man who lived his life by following his passion and his dream, he moved up to Scotland when he was 25 to pursue his love for the mountains and outdoor living, he worked for the Mountain Rescue in Glen Coe until he was struck down by Multiple Sclerosis. This disease impacts your balance and attacks your nervous system. Gary went from being a man who lived life to the full to being bed ridden, not able to see, speak or move any part of his body.​ Gary’s illness got progressively worse and in late 2008 he was told that there was not much time left, he died in May 2009 and is buried by a Loch next to Glen Coe, overlooking his dream.

He was a man who lived his dream one day at a time. He is an inspiration to David because in this day and age people forget to follow their dreams, to take a moment and think and to enjoy life. We urge you to follow in Gary’s footsteps and live life to the full follow your dream.