A WEST Devon man showed his support to a children's charity by taking on a challenge of swimming between two continents.

Ian Wesley, from Chagford, took part in a sponsored swim that started in Europe and finished in Asia, raising more than £5,000 for CHICKS — Country Holidays for Inner City Kids — which provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children.

Ian, who has been a long-time supporter of chicks, said: 'I recently came across a challenge I couldn't resist, taking on the 4.5km across the world's most concentrated shipping lane — the Hellespont Strait.

'To give the swim meaning, beyond the obvious personal challenge, I aimed to raise money for an incredibly inspiring charity, CHICKS.

'What an incredible experience. We arrived in European Turkey to high winds, white horses, strong currents and to the news that only a third of the swimmers finished the crossing the previous year — due to similar conditions. On the morning of the race I was relieved to awake to no wind and calm waters. I stood on the ferry in trepidation with 400 swimmers pointing at jelly fish and commenting on how far the 4.5km stretch of water looked.

'After an hour of thrashing around in the water, avoiding wildlife and navigating the currents and eddies, I clambered up the ramp into Turkish Asia and crossed the finishing line, cheered by the faster swimmers and local spectators, exhilarated.'

Ian expressed thanks to all the sponsors who helped him to raise enough to send six children on a CHICKS break. He is now looking forward to volunteering on several of the CHICKS camps to see how the money is used and to see how the break makes a difference to children's lives.

CHICKS chief executive Elanor Hoskins said: 'We are so impressed and really grateful to Ian for undertaking this amazing challenge. He has raised an incredible amount of money for CHICKS and we are delighted that he will be volunteering on camp.'