In July, John Collingwood plans to try something only about 1,000 people in the world have done since 1875: swim the English channel.
Collingwood, a branch of Tupperware Brands in Orlando, is to swim the canal 21 miles of Dover, England, to Calais (France), to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs in the United States and South Africa.
The 43-year-old Collingwood, who said he led 20 marathons, was inspired by a visit he made to a Boys and Girls Club of Pimville, Soweto, in his native South Africa. He later decided to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs in the United States, including the Central Florida clubs. The Tupperware Brands Foundation accepts donations for clubs in his name.
"I thought that this would be something that captures the imagination of the people", he said. "It is a very difficult challenge, and people could be moved to support."
Channel swimmers who have used the same route took 6 to 21 hours.
In preparation, practical Collingwood for several hours, almost every morning in the Lake cane called Lake swim from Lucky in Orange County. Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer, a dermatologist in Orlando, which allows swimmers of water free to use its dock, stated that it considers that Collingwood would do very well, but it is concerned about how his friend treats the cold waters.
Collingwood is concerned, too, so he put a few miles in the cold water off the coasts of New York and in South Africa. He also took ice baths to prepare for the temperature of the water which could be as low at 48 degrees.
"It is quite another level of challenge for me with cold water, jellyfish, flotsam and jetsam," he said.
Officials with the Channel Swimming Association will be the riveted eyes of a boat such as swimming of Collingwood. His support team will have food, drinks and other loans.
All stored in Tupperware containers, of course.
apalm@Tribune.com or 407-420-5022
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