The Sports Relief underwater mile challenge. When a community charity event comes along such as sports relief I always feel the urge to join in and do my bit. I admire people with a talent to be able do something a bit out of the ordinary or people who go that extra mile giving their time to help others, so this year I decide it way my turn. I have been a keen SCUBA diver for a few years and an active member of Aquatech based in Manchester. One of the instructors, Steve Millard become a keen freediver and a member of the British freediving team. Steve began to offer AIDA freediving courses an this is where my interest in freediving began.

It wasn't long before a number of existing club members including myself and few new members qualified as both 2* and 3* AIDA freedivers.With Sports relief just around the corner I decided it would be a good idea to use my newly acquired freediving skills to raise a little cash in aid of sports relief and perhaps raise awareness of the sport. I originally sounded the idea out with club members and it was decided a mile relay swim underwater would be our ultimate goal. Each diver swimming a length of Reddish pool , the next diver setting off as the previous diver completes the length. Trying to keep the date as close to the sport relief weekend, Monday 17th March was the date set for the swim.

Myself, Sean Peters was joined by Paul Taylor, Ed Hornby & Chris Laycock in the sports relief under water mile challenge. A lane was allocated to us on the evening with Steve Millard as our surface cover. The event began at a nice relaxed pace, the 1st mile was completed in good time, it was decided we would continue until the pool session closed or one of the us wanted to call it a day. In total we completed 5000 meters on the evening, just over three miles, much more than we had originally set out to achieve. I would like to thank all those who took part and through doing a sport I enjoy I hope to raise a bit of cash to help others in need.

If you feel you would like to make a donation please follow the link below

http://www.mysportrelief.com/underwatermile

Thank you

Sean Peters