Open water swim in memory of Hayleigh
KEVIN Dunne pictured with his daughter Hayleigh who was tragically killed in a road accident two years ago.
A DAD who lost his daughter in a tragic road accident two years ago is undertaking a tough challenge to raise money for a charity that helped in the months following her death.
Kevin Dunne (54) of Misterton has signed up to compete in the River Dart open water 10k swim in memory of his 23-year-old daughter Hayleigh.
He hopes to raise £500 for Brake, the road safety charity which supports the family of road crash victims.
The event takes place on Saturday September 22 when Kevin will attempt to swim 6.2 miles - the aquatic equivalent of a marathon, and about 398 lengths of a 25 metre pool - down the River Dart in Devon, set amongst rolling hills and breathtaking countryside.
He told the Bells/Advertiser: “As many of you know my 23-year-old daughter Hayleigh was killed in a road traffic accident in December 2010 and one of the first calls I made for assistance was to ring Brake.
“Brake is a charity that exists for one simple reason - because every 30 seconds someone somewhere in the world is killed in a road crash. Brake in the UK campaigns to stop the carnage, supporting victims and their families.”
He explained: “As swimming was Hayleigh’s favourite sport I decided to pay tribute to my daughter by doing the Dart 10k open swim and raising money for a super charity at the same time.
“Open water swimming is completely different to swimming in a pool. First of all it is continuous swimming. The pool temperature of a swimming pool is nice and warm at around 30 degrees but for the Dart 10k the anticipated water temperature will be between 12-15 degrees.
“Wetsuits are compulsory because the majority of swimmers will suffer hypothermia in the anticipated water temperature.”
Kevin, who works as a Community Action Officer for West Lindsey District Council and is the former head coach of South Axholme Sharks of which Hayleigh was a member, hopes to complete the route in less than two and a half hours.
Training has consisted of an hour most mornings at Gainsborough Pool and also at Whisby Lake, Lincoln and Tyram Lake, Doncaster.
If anyone would like to sponsor Kevin visit www.justgiving.com/kevin-dunne0
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Friday 24 May 2013
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