Swimming challenge for soup kitchen
A Sunderland dad is undertaking a 100k sea swim over 100 days to help keep the city from going hungry.
Leroy Arkley began his challenge on Saturday, November 28, as he and supporters set out from Roker’s Cat and Dog Steps.
The 47-year-old, from East Herrington, is swimming 1 k a day up until Sunday, March 7, in aid of Sunderland Soup Kitchen – with more than £1,000 raised so far.
He decided to support it after his wife Donna and her business partner Helen Collinson, who run Bouchique on Mackie’s Corner, got involved by making a donation each time a customer bought a coat.
Wearing just trunks, goggles and a cap as the sea temperature drops to 5ºC, he will swim at Roker, Seaburn or Seaham at 7.30am on weekdays and through weekend group swims.
Roker Bathing Club and Seaburn Swimmers will join in, while Sue’s Cafe will keep him in hot drinks.
Leroy, who is dad to Oscar, 17, and Robyn, 15, said: “It gives you a high and an adrenaline kick and you always feel a better person after a swim.
"It’ll be tough, but I’ve got a lot of support and when I’ve spoken to Andrea from the Soup Kitchen, she’s explained what people are dealing with and all the good work they do.
"It’s going to be hard for me for 20minutes a day, but for others, they have it tough all the time.”
Andrea Bell, who runs the soup kitchen, said: “He’s absolutely bonkers for doing this.
"But it means so much to us.
"The support we’ve had from Donna has been so good, he understands the hunger poverty, is onboard with our ethics and knows it’s all done by volunteers.
"He has said he wants to support people in his city and wants to make sure there is a solution for them.”
Rok er Bathing Club founder Nick Matthews, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Sunderland Royal, added: “What he is going to do is to be commended and getting into the sea, especially in January, February and March.
"I think it’s going to be a great thing for a cause here in Sunderland.”
The challenge can be followed on Instagram via @100 day challenge swimscsk and sponsored through the 100km in 100 Days Swim Challenge Go Fund Me page.