MEMBERS of the Okehampton Otters Swimming Club swam the equivalent distance of the Channel recently, to aid the appeal to help a North Tawton man travel to Holland for pioneering stem cell treatment which could help him to walk again. The thirteen Master swimmers raised the incredible figure of £746.35 for the Paul Vanstone Appeal, fighting off tiredness to keep notching up the lengths. Together the fundraisers swam a total of 22 miles or 1,048 lengths of the pool at the Parklands Leisure Centre on Tuesday, March 22. Swimming is close to Paul?s heart, as his father Reg swam the Channel in his youth and Paul also used to swim. The previous fundraising event for the appeal at Okehampton Rugby Club raised an excellent £1,172.67p, and the total towards the appeal target now stands at more than £4,000. The figure represents almost a third of the £13,000 needed to allow wheelchair-bound Paul to get treatment at a private clinic in Rotterdam. Money is still being collected for the appeal, anyone wishing to make a donation should contact Kim Laurella on 01837 52368.
