Leading footwear brand, Chatham is sponsoring Ben Hooper as he plans to swim the Atlantic Ocean – in an attempt to set a new world record.
Later this month, Ben will be swimming more than 2,000 miles from Senegal to Brazil, across some of the most dangerous parts of the ocean. He will pass through shark inhabited regions encountering jellyfish, flying fish and suffering the harsh effects of the Equatorial sun. The risk of exhaustion, changing weather conditions and mental hurdles will be just some of the challenges to overcome.
Risking his life to raise vital funds for his chosen charities – SOS Children’s Village, Addaction, Maggie’s and County Community Projects, Arena, BRIG and Help4Henry – Ben admits there is an 80 per cent chance he could die in the attempt to complete his challenge.
Chatham is supporting Ben with branded footwear and clothing for his training and for the time when he is out of the water, with an investment worth over £5,000. Ben will be wearing Chatham’s iconic Aqua Go footwear – high performance shoes which are super lightweight, ultra-grippy and anatomically designed, with no compromise on style.
Commenting on his challenge, Ben says, “Chatham’s support means everything to me and my crew. Not only do we get complete our world-first in style, but with our practical needs being met. Chatham’s footwear is quick draining, drying and comfortable too – we are very fortunate to have Philip and his team as Partners. For us, the best part is we will raise funds for “Help4Henry” – the charity very close to Chatham, which exemplifies all my expedition stands for; never give up and nothing is impossible!”
Entitled “Swim The Big Blue”, Ben’s expedition will see him swim for up to 12 hours a day, with a two hour break on board a support boat and an overnight sleep of up to ten hours. The support crew will note the GPS location every time Ben enters and exits the water, to account for any drift and ensure every mile is swum. The challenge will be filmed to provide a full account of the expedition and Ben will record a daily video diary of his efforts.
Philip Marsh, Managing Director of Chatham, says, “This is an absolutely incredible challenge and we are very excited to support Ben as he attempts to make history. We look forward to helping Ben in the build up to his challenge and we will follow him every step of the way. Good luck Ben!”
To donate to Ben’s chosen charities, please visit: www.swimthebigblue.com/charities and www.bensmiles.co.uk.
For more information, please visit: www.swimthebigblue.com and www.chatham.co.uk.
