Brian takes the plunge for FORCE

A former Exeter head teacher has raised more than £900 for cancer charity FORCE by taking up the challenge to swim a mile every day throughout February.

Brian Small from Newton Poppleford was among around 50 swimmers who signed on for the month-long 28 miles in 28 days campaign at LED Leisure pools in Sidmouth, Honiton, Exmouth and Yeovil.

The majority swam at Exmouth where 28 people each did their bit for the charity.

Brian is a regular at Sidmouth Swimming Pool and routinely swims more than 60 lengths of the 25 metre pool daily.

When the chance came to combine his daily fitness routine with raising money for a cause close to his heart, he dived straight in.

“My wife Joan died 10 years ago and FORCE were very good to her in her last months and to me after she passed away,” said Brian, who retired as head at Ladysmith Middle School in 2005. “Unfortunately these days everyone knows someone affected by cancer and by supporting FORCE you can see where the money is spent helping local people.”

This is the second year that LED Leisure has staged a swimathon in aid of FORCE with participants pledging to cover half a mile or a mile in the pool every day.

“We are incredibly grateful to the staff at LED Leisure for again organising an aqua challenge in aid of FORCE. This event raised more than £3,000 last year and with more centres and more people involved this time around, it looks to be another fantastic success,” said FORCE community fundraiser Naomi Cole.

“Huge thanks to all of the swimmers. We really appreciate your efforts and commitment to swimming for us every day throughout February,” she added.

Brian, who will be 70 later this year, aims to top the £1,000 mark in sponsorship for his latest challenge.

He has had generous support from many of his colleagues in the local musical community.

Brian plays in three bands– the Stan Hacking Concert Band, Exmouth Town Band and the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Band. He also sings with two choirs – Summerland Singers and St David’s Players.
His is a musical family. Brian plays French horn, late wife Joan was a clarinettist, younger daughter Victoria plays the oboe and her sister Louise is a music teacher, accomplished on a number of instruments including clarinet, bassoon, saxophone and flute.

Louise and husband Joe Yeadon cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats last year, raising more than £3,200 that they split between FORCE and Macmillan Cancer Support while Victoria regularly runs in Cancer Research UK events.

“As a family we are all aware of the tragedy that cancer can cause and I’m very proud of them for all that they do,” said Brian.