Bristol Channel swimmers raise £8,000 for charity

A team of 13 firefighters swum the Bristol Channel to raise cash for sufferers of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
And they raised a whopping £8120.70 for the Welsh PTSD charity Healing The Wounds.
The money was handed over at a special presentation ceremony held at Swansea Guildhall attended by The Lord Mayor of the City & County of Swansea Councillor Ioan Richard, Councillor Tony Colburn and representatives of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Many of the firemen involved in the swim were unable to attend the presentation ceremony as they were responding to the tragic accident at the Gleision Colliery.
The cash was handed over to Healing The Wounds by Andrew Francis on behalf of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
In return, Councillor Richard presented Mr Francis with a framed photograph showing the swimmers arriving home at Knab Rock, Mumbles, Swansea.
Officers from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service swum 36 nautical miles in aid of Healing The Wounds.
One of the event organisers, Watch manager Gareth Davies, said he was delighted with the success of the swim.
“It was hard going, but it was well worth it for this important charity.”
The firefighters chose to raise funds for Healing The Wounds after hearing about its work with victims of PTSD from a former serviceman.
“As firefighters we understand that people who put their lives on the line need emotional and psychological support, and that is what Healing the Wounds offer,” said Mr Davies.
Kevin Richards, executive director of Healing The Wounds, said: “Firefighters risk their safety to help other people, so they are able to understanding the demanding nature of life in the forces.
“Swimming the Bristol Channel was a huge undertaking, which really tested the firefighters. Their achievement was magnificent and we are all very proud of them.”

The Lord Mayor of the City & County of Swansea Councillor Ioan Richard hands over a framed photograph of the charity swimmers to Andrew Francis from the the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Andrew Francis from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service hands over a cheque for £8,120.70 to Rachel Phillips, Fund Raising Manager for the Healing the Wounds PTSD charity.
There are assorted pictures from the swim landing at Knab Rock, Mumbles, on the following weblink –
https://picasaweb.google.com/robertapvincent/BristolChannelSwimForHealingTheWounds?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrJnOat8remqwE
The Healing The Wounds charity was set up in January 2010 to help provide PTSD treatment for members of the armed forces and veterans. It aims to set up a Welsh base for the treatment of PTSD. It is already arranging treatment courses and building a team of counsellors who can treat PTSD.
Donations can be made –
By post:
To make your donation by post, please send a cheque payable to Healing The Wounds, together with your name address and post code to enable us to claim gift aid, to Healing The Wounds, 26, Enterprise Centre, Bryn Road, Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 9BS.
Give in person at Barclays Bank.
Call into any branch of Barclays and pay your donation into this account:
Healing The Wounds
Sort code: 20-84-41
Account number: 90516929
The charity’s website is at http://www.healingthewounds.co.uk/

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