ST John's-on-the-Hill pupil Henry Green will take to the water in Cornwall later this month to raise money for charity.

Instead of the familiar comfort of a swimming pool though, the 10-year-old Monnow Swimming Club member will be swimming across the mouth of the Camel Estuary – from Rock to the popular Cornish town of Padstow, on Sunday 12th July.

Speaking about covering the one mile course, Henry said: "I'm looking forward to it. I'm doing it for the challenge and to help raise money for charity.

"I've watched the swim before on holiday and wanted to do it – this year is the first year I can."

The swim is open to those who are aged 10 and over, with under-14s having to be accompanied by adults – in Henry's case by his father Chris.

Henry's mother Stephanie said: "Normally it's the adults keeping the under-14's going. It's the other way round with Henry. He's the strong swimmer and Chris is the one being helped."

The pair have been training in outdoor conditions to help prepare them for the challenge.

"You have to change your technique from swimming in a pool. In there you can see the lines and know where you're going. In open water, you have to keep looking up every four to six strokes to make sure you're going straight."

There are a number of other differences that Henry has had to overcome too.

"I've found it quite difficult to put my head underwater, to put my head into darkness. You can see the bottom of a pool and it's quite light but you can't see the bottom of the river," said Henry.

"The water's freezing too – it's cold compared to the 25 degrees in a swimming pool.

"I've got the hang of it now anyway – we completed the one mile distance in training near Bristol last week."

Henry and Chris will have one hour to cross the estuary as part of a group of amateur swimmers. Before them, a professional group goes first and has half an hour to complete the distance.

Swimmers not only have the cold to contend with, though all participants will be in full wetsuits, but also the tide which will be at its height during the swim.

The swim is organised in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. If anyone wants to sponsor Henry and Chris on their swim, they have a page at ww.justgiving.com/

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