YDRT trustee and amputee Jonty Warneken is embarking on a series of intrepid open water ice swims this year and next to raise awareness of the things that are important to him and raise funds for three charities close to his heart: YDRT, Candlelighters Fighting Children’s Cancer and Open Country, helping people with disabilities to access and enjoy the countryside.
Setting himself a target of raising £30,000 to mark this year’s 30th anniversary of the actual incident in which he lost his leg, Jonty also plans to raise a second £30,000 in 2025 to mark the day when, after months of struggle, he finally accepted that his leg could not be saved and decided to have it removed.
Jonty said: “This year will be the 30th anniversary of the crash and I want to mark that in a way that shows how far I have come, both physically and mentally. I want something positive to come out of it.
“I have decided to celebrate how much I have achieved over the last 30 years by undertaking a series of marathon and channel swims, some yet to be swum by a para swimmer, in order to raise £30,000 to be split between 3 charities that are close to my heart, two of which I am proud to be a trustee. The swims in 2024 are: solo round the island of Jersey in July, then in August with Team ‘Bits Missing’ we attempt to be the first all para team to conquer the Bristol Channel (classic route) and then in September I undertake the same route solo to be hopefully the first Para swimmer to swim it.
“In January 2025 I will be swimming in the 6th Ice Swimming World Championship in Molveno, representing Great Britain, and as soon as I get back, I am in training for my attempt at the English Channel in May 2025 to hopefully complete my ‘Original Triple Crown’.”
To donate to Jonty’s appeal visit: Jonty’s No Limbit Swims – GiveWheel
You can read Jonty’s full story in the Yorkshire Post cutting below and also learn more about his favourite open water swimming spots around Yorkshire and hints and tips for swimming safely outdoors in the July issue of Yorkshire Life.
