On Saturday, Newport & District Running Club’s Chas Bickford-Smith left his running shoes at home, as he took on a 10km swim for charity, raising over £750 in the process. Raising money for the charity Level Water, who use the power of swimming to improve lives for children with disabilities, Chas joined fellow participants in swimming up the Barmouth Estuary, starting in Barmouth itself, and moving upstream inland, completing his swim in 1 hour, 33 minutes.

Chas before the swim

Chas said after the event: “It was a really nice experience, but cold, quite an experience; not as aggressive as triathlon! First couple of Km were tough, wind against tide created quite a swell to swim against, but flattened out higher up the river. Water changed from salt to fresh in the last 2km with a drop in temperature.”

Chas in amongst the crowds at the finish (arrowed!)

Anyone who would like to donate to Chas’ fundraising effort can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/page/chas-epic-swim?utm_source=Whatsapp&utm_medium=email_social&utm_campaign=LFCFRUK_MomentumDonLapse

Chas after the finish with his prize mug of hot chocolate!