A caring cousin has become the youngest athlete to finish an epic triathlon while raising money for a charity which helps reunite families.
Tom Beaver, from Walkmills, near Leebotwood, completed the Enduroman Arch to Arc Challenge in memory of soldier Blake Hartley, a former Ellesmere College pupil who went missing in 2004 in the French Alps.
The challenge, which took place from September 6 to 11, saw Tom setting off from Marble Arch in London where he ran the 87 miles to Dover.
He then swam the 22 miles to Calais followed by a support boat crewed by family and friends who kept him fed and watered for the 230-hour journey.
For the final leg Tom cycled 187 miles from Calais to L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, including an additional seven miles due to roadworks along the way.
So far Tom has raised over £5,000 through sponsorship for the charity Missing People but he intends to reach a target of £10,000.
He said: “At last I am happy to say I have completed the Enduro Arch to Arc. I wanted to say a massive thank you to all my sponsors who made my dream come true. Without you it would not have been possible.”
Despite suffering swollen feet and a sore mouth and throat from ingesting salt water and the wind and tide going against him, Tom has become the second fastest person to complete the challenge and one of only five people to have finished it out of the 14 who have attempted it so far. The challenge took 85 hours and 56 minutes in total, the world record is 81 hours 5 minutes.
Channel swimmer Mike Reid, who has swam the route 31 times and is known as the ‘King of the Channel’ said: “That has to go down as one of the bravest swims the channel has ever seen.”
Sally Perrin, Blake’s mother, said: “I think there could be no greater tribute to my son than what Tom has accomplished and I feel sure that Blake had a hand in helping us locate Tom on that beach and helping him ashore, he has achieved something amazing that Blake would have been so proud of, as we all are.”
To sponsor Tom, visit www.justgiving.com/arch2arc08