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Epic challenge complete!

Epic challenge complete!

Friday 15 September 2023

Epic challenge complete!

Friday 15 September 2023


9-year-old Jude Marley has successfully swum from the Castle Slipway to the Horseshoe pool at La Vallette every day for seven days, to raise money for the charity which helped his friend when he was a baby.

Accompanied in the water by his 12-year-old friend Sami Bamford for each swim, Jude was elated as he completed his final swim last night.

Jude Marley Sammy Bamford 

Pictured: Jude Marley (c) and Sami Bamford (r) have both swum from the Castle Cornet slipway to the Horseshoe pool at La Vallette every day for a week.

Both Jude and Sami started the challenge last week, ahead of the official start of the Just Get Active Week in aid of This is Epic and the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.

Jude came up with the idea of swimming every day for his own personal challenge with support from parents Simon and Kerry who kayaked and swam alongside him each day.

Sami got involved too with support from his parents along with countless other friends and family members throughout the course of the week.

Jude Marley Sammy Bamford

Pictured: Kerry Marley (at the very back) was among the supporters during her son Jude's and his friend Sami's swimming challenge.

Jude's decision to take on the swimming challenge came about out of support for his friend Jack.

"I wanted to raise money for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation and This Is Epic," he explained. 

"So we've been swimming from Castle Cornet to the bathing pools the whole week.

"My friend Jack was born early. He was a premature baby, and they helped his parents so I wanted to help them back."

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Pictured: Jack (in the yellow life vest) and Jude, with friends, watching as Jude's dad brings the kayaks ashore at the end of the final swim in the week long challenge.

Jack was in the kayak for Jude's final swim, alongside Jude's dad Simon, while mum Kerry was swimming.

She said the (approximately) 500m swim had taken him around 14 minutes each day - but the final time he completed it in 12 minutes.

Kerry said the support had been amazing.

"Most people have just come down for this evening but there was only one day where it was just us, generally we've had a few people here each day who have joined us.

"The weather has really played ball. The alternative plan was, if it was too rough, we would do this in the bathing pools, but we've been really lucky.

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Pictured: One of Jude and Sami's supporters at the end of their week long swimming challenge.

Sami is a keen swimmer. He's planning to swim to Herm in the future - "just for fun".

Jude said that also sounds like a good idea.

"I've done a couple of things like this in the past and they've got harder with each one. 

"I wouldn't mind swimming to Herm. It would be quite a nice experience. I think it would be quite nice views."

Jude Marley Sammy Bamford

Pictured: Jude Marley (c) and Sami Bamford (r) with mum Kerry Marley (back) and friend Jack (l) along with other friends at the end of the week long challenge.

This week long swimming challenge has raised just over £700 for This is Epic and the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, and donations can still be made HERE

"I'm very tired, unbelieving really, but also happy that we've raised so much," said Jude. 

"It's fantastic."

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