Mark Voigt, a Workshop Supervisor at Dove Holes quarry, is completing a Charity open water swimming event over the Winter and he would appreciate any support for this fantastic cause.

Mark and his friends, Darren and Ruth, are hoping to raise some money for the charity Mind. In September their friend, Marcus Fielden, was lost to suicide. This had a devastating effect on his family, children, friends and colleagues. After discussions the friends decided to use their talents for swimming in freezing water to try and raise awareness of Men’s Mental Health.

They have chosen to raise some money for Mind, the mental health charity working across England and Wales, in the hope that they can help prevent such tragic occurrences in the future.  The group of friends have, therefore, signed up to the Polar Bear Challenge where they need to swim a certain distance over many weeks from November to March. The Polar Bear Challenge is a national event for open water swimmers. Marks chosen level is the Artic which means they have to swim 3,000m per month in only a swimsuit. No thermal protection is allowed!

Well done to the group who have now completed four months and have just got March to go. Through their swimming videos on Facebook they are also pushing and promoting a message about men’s Mental Health.

If you’d like to support Mark’s challenge please click here to donate on his JustGiving page.  Thank you.