Charity worker crosses channel (From Croydon Guardian)

Tooting charity worker crosses channel

7:00am Tuesday 3rd August 2010 in Croydon Champions By Kirsty Whalley

A 27-year-old charity worker raised more than £8,500 swimming across the English Channel in an arduous 12 hours and 45 minutes.

Tom Godec, who works for the International Needs group, has been nominated for a Croydon Champions award as charity volunteer of the year.

Mr Godec, communications manager at the Croydon-based charity, completed the tough challenge on July 23 and is still receiving donations for his feat.

And he hopes to break his target of £10,000.

The money he raised will be used to build a fully furnished classroom at a school in the community of Kiyindi in Uganda.

The classroom will allow some of the poorest children in the region to get a good education.

Mr Godec said : “It’s amazing, I am really excited.”

He was helped by the oldest man to swim the channel, 77-year-old Joe Smith, who comes from Lancashire.

Mr Smith was instrumental in his training.

He said: “It’s a mental battle, Tom has never failed to complete a long sea swim during his training, so mentally he was very prepared for the challenge.”

After just seven months of training Mr Godec felt ready to brave the cold water, gale winds and jelly fish.

He was only allowed breaks of between 15 and 20 seconds to eat or have a drink of water, from a bottle thrown to him from his supporting crew.

He said the toughest part of his swim was approaching the French coastline with the knowledge he still had few hours of swimming to do.

When the 27-year-old reached his destination he let out a shout of joy, throwing his arms around his team members.

Shocked and relieved to have succeeded, he said: “The swim had been an incredible experience, very tough, but with the amazing support I have had from the crew, friends and family and all who have sponsored me, there was no way I was going to give up.”

If you would like to donate go to virginmoneygiving.com/tomgodec.