Inspirational fundraisers like Alex have been pushing themselves to the limit so children’s hospices aren’t pushed to theirs

Ex-Worcester Warrior Alex Grove pushed himself to the limit by swimming the English Channel for Acorns. The retired sportsman completed a solo swim of the world’s busiest shipping lane in an incredible 13 hours and 57 minutes.
The epic swim, which saw Alex swim all the way from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, raised a jaw dropping £31,600.
He said: ““It was a long and gruelling swim but that’s exactly what I expected and had prepared for. Swimming the Channel is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one, probably more in fact.
“The Channel took just shy of 14 hours. Ultimately, I knew if I could deal with being uncomfortable for large chunks of time then I’d be fine.
“When I started to see the sand underneath me, I knew I’d made it then. As soon as it was shallow enough to stand up, I did, and I walked out exactly as I’d imagined for the last two years. I was a huge relief and I was delighted that all the training and preparation had paid off.”