A teacher is swimming ‘the channel’ in a grueling fitness challenge in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.

Head of Deeside Sixth in Connahs Quay, Alex Thomas, is swimming the length of the channel to raise donations as part of Coleg Cambria’s charity of the year.

The teacher will swim 1,300 lengths of a swimming pool, the equivalent of the English Channel, to raise donations for Wales Air Ambulance.

Alex said: “This is the biggest challenge I have ever taken. A few months back, I could hardly swim a full length without stopping.

“I will start my swim on Sunday June 11, and will be swimming through the night, hoping to finish early morning on Monday.”

The swimming challenge is part of Coleg Cambria’s fundraising for their charity of the year, Wales Air Ambulance, which so far has raised thousands for the Welsh helicopter charity.

Staff and students of the college have held events and taken parts in fundraisers to gather donations for their charity of the year.

Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £6.5million every year to keep the charity’s four helicopters flying across Wales.

With each of WAA’s missions costing around £1,500, Coleg Cambria’s fundraising will help to fund several lifesaving missions.

Alex will complete his swimming challenge on Sunday June 11, completing over 1,000 lengths of a swimming pool.

The teacher will swim through the night to complete his fundraising challenge.

Debra Sima, Wales Air Ambulance Community Coordinator said: “Alex’s fundraising challenge will help to save lives across Wales, by fundraising our missions.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Alex and Coleg Cambria, as their support by selecting us as their charity of the year has been outstanding.

“Alex is taking on a huge swimming challenge, and his hard work and determination will help us keep our four helicopters flying.”

If you would like to sponsor Alex, click here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alex-Thomas21