This Father’s Day, Islander Jack Holmes will take on the Arla Great North Swim in memory of his late father – all whilst raising money for Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Jack, an osteopath, will swim across Lake Windermere in the Lake District – the official Olympic open water distance – to honour his dad Chris, who died in 2018 after being cared for by Mountbatten.
Chris was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and received support from the charity’s inpatient unit and community nurses, enabling him to spend his final days at home.
Jack has said:
“I’ve always been a swimmer. I’m a real water baby. There’s a calming isolation to being a wild swimmer. It’s the opposite of being claustrophobic.
“The support my family received from Mountbatten during our most vulnerable and difficult time was invaluable. Now I want to give back.”
The Arla Great North Swim is the UK’s largest open water swimming event. Although Jack only began swimming seriously in 2020, he says this is his biggest challenge yet. Jack has previously swum The Solent and completed an 8km River Arun challenge, but says this is his biggest swim yet.
To sponsor Jack, visit https://theearlmountbattenhospice.enthuse.com/pf/jack-holmes-b95d5
Good luck and such a great way to
celebrate Fathers Day.
Gone but never forgotten.