A WRITER is swimming from the Isle of Wight to the beach where he first met his partner to raise money for a charity giving kids the chance to create music for free.
Mark Ryan, 61, is no stranger to a tough challenge having swam from the Isle of Wight to Hurst Point and completing a marathon hike within 24 hours last summer.
But this year the Winchester writer is taking on an even more treacherous solo swim, that’s twice the length and estimated to take between two to three hours, finishing at Lepe Beach where Mark first met his partner Kate two years ago.
Mr Ryan has been trying to swim 3km a day at Winchester Sport and Leisure Park, in Bar End, ahead of the two-mile swim of the Solent on Thursday, August 10.
Mark, of North Walls, said: “Swimming 120 lengths in a pool is pretty dull and boring but it will be anything but in the sea. It really is touch and go whether I'll make it. You can’t recreate the sea.
“This swim is on a completely different level. The boats and shipping traffic can be quite heavy so I might have to stop to let ferries go by.
“There are the normal fears of what lurks beneath. It’s all scary. You’re at the mercy of everything in the sea but I’m hoping my girlfriend will be waiting on the other side for me and I’ll be swimming not being picked up.”
The writer was inspired by Winnall Rock School after seeing the impact the music charity has made on his partner’s child.
The fundraiser has nearly hit its £500 target, raising £460 a week before the swim from Gurnard Beach near Cowes. Mr Ryan will announce the final total at Winnall Rock School’s annual summer show at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday, July 19.
SEE ALSO: Winnall Rock School: Providing a home for kids through music
Mark said: “Winnall Rock School has worked wonders for Kate’s teenager through hard times. Some of the kids that go there have all sorts of challenges and I don’t know what they’d do without it.
“It’s making dreams come true for these children so I’m doing what I can to help. Every and any donation makes a difference there.”
Project coordinator at the rock school, Peter Brown, said: “Private donations as a direct response to the impact our work has on our young people are always welcome. But it’s even more brilliant when people like Mark want to tell their stories about our impact and undertake a challenge like this for us. We look forward to welcoming Mark onto our summer show stage to tell us about his swim and announce his final total.”
For more information or to donate go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-ryan-4.
And for tickets to Winnall Rock School’s show Tomorrow, Yesterday, Now! At the Theatre Royal in Jewry Street go to theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/winnall-rock-school-summer-show-2023-tomorrow-and-yesterday-now.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel