Wirral Life August 2018 | Page 23

W L STEVE MCHUGH’S CHANNEL SWIM DREAM CHALLENGE COMES TRUE On 7th July 2018 local Ironman Steve McHugh became the first Wirral person ever to complete a solo swim crossing of the English Channel… all in the memory of his dear late friend Paul Lavelle. Steve set himself the massive challenge to raise £10,000 towards a number of charities including the Paul Lavelle Foundation. The English Channel swim is considered to be the ultimate long- distance swimming challenge across one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world with 600 tankers and 200 other vessels passing through on a daily basis. On the 6th July, Steve received the message to be at Dover Harbour for 1am, in preparation to begin his swim at 2am. At this point, Steve’s amazing support crew made up of the tri-4-life team members (Lee McHugh, Liam Hanlon and Jimmy Tinsley) were all ready and prepared to travel with him for the long swim ahead. With copious days of training which included swimming in freezing cold water most morning's and every weekend for a year had finally come to this moment. The crew were outstandin