Taking the plunge to fund Korea trip
A Bath teenager has set himself a mammoth challenge in a bid to travel to South Korea.
Otis Maguire, 14, is a talented swimmer and aims to cover over 10,000 metres to raise money for his trip. His mum is also a waterlover and completed a similar feat when she was Otis’s age.
Yet he hopes to out-do his mum’s 10km record by 25 metres when he takes on the challenge on Sunday. If he raises just 10p per metre, he will meet his target of £1,000.
All this is so he can fly out to Saemangeum next August for the 25th World Scout Jamboree - a huge gathering with over 50,000 participants from around the world. Around 3,000 scouts from the UK will take part, and Otis is one of just three selected to attend from Bath. He first donned his Scout scarf aged five, and he is now a Young Leader.
Otis said: “I’m now thrilled to be part of Unit 75, a group of 36 scouts and explorers from the Avon area with whom I’ll be travelling to Korea, and who I’ve been meeting once a month since the selection day in October 2021 for group fundraising and team building.
“The Jamboree is an excellent opportunity to make new friends and build a range of skills. It’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a country and learn about a culture that’s so different from my own.
“However, this fantastic experience does come with a cost. I have to raise £2,900 to help pay for accommodation, transportation and site utilities.”
Otis has decided to complete a 10km sponsored swim to raise £1,000 towards his trip. It will take place on Sunday at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre.
The pool is 25 metres long, so he will need to swim 400 lengths - plus an extra one to beat his mum’s record.
He is already more than halfway to his fundraising goal. To donate, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/helpotis-get-to-korea-beat-mums-swimrecord?qid=efefc208266dea6ad0e89 7a48f1741f7.