Viv takes the plunge to swim ‘English Channel’
Released: 13 September 2007
Her predecessor completed the gruelling New York Marathon and now Wolverhampton City Council’s acting director for adults and community Viv Griffin is hoping to go one better – by swimming the equivalent of the English Channel.
She is preparing to compete in spinal injury charity Aspire’s Channel Swim, which is encouraging fundraisers to complete 22 miles in their local pool.
That is the equivalent of swimming across the English Channel and though the keen swimmer has 12 weeks to complete the challenge, she is hoping to knock it off in just four sessions, swimming five-and-a-half miles at a time.
Joining her in what she hopes will be a money-spinning effort will be her teenage son Joe, who will also be using the challenge to build up his strength as he prepares to undergo examinations to become a council lifeguard.
The pair will need to complete a whopping 2,500 lengths of their local pool, in Albrighton, to clock up the required distance, but they are looking forward to the challenge.
Viv, 48, said: “I chose to complete the Aspire challenge as both my daughter Becky and I are keen horse riders and have seen that a lot of people suffer spinal injuries through falling off their mounts.
“I am looking forward to completing the challenge. Swimming is part of my fitness regime and this is a way of both pushing myself and raising what we hope will be a lot of money for good causes at the same time.”
Money raised through sponsorship will be split between Aspire and Wolverhampton mayor Trudy Brown’s charities of the year, Khandel Light, SSAFA Forces Help and The Rheumatology Outpatient Department at The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust.
Viv, acting director for the adults & community directorate, begins the challenge in earnest on Monday and is following in the sporty tradition of her predecessor Glen Mason, who pounded the streets of the Big Apple in aid of the Red Cross when he completed the New York Marathon last November.
She joked: “It seems we are laying down a challenge to whoever takes up the director post permanently – Glen ran the New York Marathon, I am swimming the English Channel so it’s up to the next person to show what they can do.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor Viv is asked to call Pat Bradley on 01902 555301 or email vivienne.griffin@wolverhampton.gov.uk. For more information on the charity, visit www.aspire.org.uk
Issued by the press office.