A TABLEY businessman has helped to raise more than £6,000 for charity after swimming the English Channel.

Ted MacDougal will donate the cash to Help for Heroes.

He chose the charity due to being a former member of the Territorial Army.

As part of a team of four businessmen from the area, he has completed one of the most daunting and physically challenging experiences that anyone will ever face.

Ted was joined by Dave McEwan, Ian Shaw and Nathan Royle who swam the English Channel in a time of 13 hours, 57 minutes and eight seconds – each swimming one hour in relay.

In preparation for the swim, the four men took to pools, lakes, the Welsh coast and the Manchester Ship Canal, all in an attempt to acclimatise their bodies for the cold temperature of the crossing.

It took nine months in total to prepare for the challenge, however nothing could prepare them for what was to come next.

Yet, with the weather deteriorating as rapidly as the darkness, their fear subsided as their bodies were pushed to the limit.

Sitting on Ted’s desk are the pebbles, which were collected on arrival in Calais.

“The desire was not to let the lads down,” he said.

“There was a fear of looking down to the depths of the Channel in the pitch black not knowing what was lurking there.

“But throughout the whole trip, we were all determined, yet continued to ‘laugh along the way’, which was the key to our success.

“We are all moved by the soldiers’ work and are aware of the devastation caused to these men.”

The four men plan to complete more charity events in the future and are currently writing an Idiot’s Guide to Channel Swimming.

If you wish to donate money, the link for the donation page is virginmoneygiving.com/team/ englishchannelswimsrmm and will remain open for six weeks.