Ben Brophy

2013 – The Year Ahead

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Ben Brophy

Welcome to the year 2013!

With 2013 finally arriving I thought it was only right to give an overview of the year ahead! It’s going to be a huge year for us and a chance to really make a difference. I have highlighted some key events and dates for this year below, so make sure you get involved!

Fundraising

We are currently working on a bucket collection and a bag pack to help raise awareness and much needed funds. As soon as we have a date we will be posting on our social media pages and website! Did you know if the average length of sleep is 7.5 hours a day and an average life span is 64 years old we would spend 183,538 hours sleeping, if you are able to spare just one hour to help raise money for charity this year you can make a huge difference and feel good about doing it!

  • Bucket Collection in the Birmingham city centre area – Date TBC
  • Bag Pack either in Birmingham or Bedford! – Date TBC

Competitions/Events

It is going to be a massive year for sporting events so make sure you show your support as myself and the team continue to train hard to be able to raise awareness for LLR.

  • Ben swims 5KM for the swimathon in Robinson Pool, Bedford – 27th April
  • Great Swim Series South East – 22nd June
  • Great Swim Series Manchester – 20th july
  • Ben swims the length of the English Channel, Bedford – Date TBC
  • Ben swims a 6 hour qualifier for the swim across the English Channel –  Date TBC
  • Ben swims across the English Channel starting from Dover U.K. – 27 August to the 4th September
  • Team Brophy cycles London to Paris – Date TBC

Make sure to keep any eye out on our website and facebook page for more information!

Thanks for all the support and I’m very excited about what this year entitles for us all!

Ben Brophy & The Team

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Andy Read

Time and Dedication

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Andy Read

We have been doing a lot of work on TeamBrophy recently and it has got me thinking.

It is now only about nine months until Ben takes the plunge into the cold murky waters of the English Channel to undertake his amazing, yet gruelling, challenge. Although personally I do not know what my future holds, nine months genuinely doesn’t feel very long away. Judging by how the last two year have gone for TeamBrophy, I assume the swim will be upon us in no time. Probably quicker than most of us would like to imagine.

Those of you close to me know that I am not always one for expressing my emotions. However, I must say that I have the upmost admiration for what Ben is doing. Ben has been focused on this swim for the past two years, three by the time he gets in the water, and I can’t think of anything in my life that I have committed so much to. I have supported other charities but nothing of this scale, nothing that requires so much sacrifice from one man.

I often look at professional athletes and think how much they have achieved, often so young. Then I look at Ben, a guy who by the age of 22, a few years my junior, will have swam across the channel. But more importantly, he will have raised thousands of pounds for a cause so close to his heart.

Ben is doing this for one simple, noble, reason; to stop others having to loose a loved one like he did.

Please support Ben in anyway you can and together we can help tackle Leukaemia.

donate

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Ben Brophy

Official Release of Swim Date!

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Ben Brophy

Welcome to a very special announcement from myself and the team! I am delighted to announce that following on from the signing of the support boat, the official date of the Channel swim attempt has been decided.

In 2013 between the 27th of August and 3rd of September I will be attempting to swim the English Channel for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. We have teamed up with a very experienced crew including a past channel swimmer, who’s experience will become vital during long, open water sea sessions and on the big day itself.

We will have a team of up to 10 people on board our support boat, plus crew members to help me get from Dover, U.K. to Calais, France. These 10 people will have an important role to play; preparing and supplying food and drink within the space of 30 second gaps, as well as psychological support throughout the long swim. They are my pit crew for each of my hourly 30 second pit stops with no physical contact with the boat or members allowed.

Thank you for all the support and keep an eye out for up coming blogs!

 

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Andy Read

Signing on the dotted line….

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Andy Read

Hello all

It is a privilege to speak to you as always, but today is not about me, instead it’s all about Ben.

The team got together last weekend for a working session to sort out a number of different admin and promotional tasks, more of which I’m sure you’ll hear about soon.

Just as we started to flag and falter, Ben happened to mention that he had a surprise. Typical of the guy to “just mention” something of this importance

So what was the surprise I hear you cry… well Ben had brought along the contract for his safety boat!! So with that now signed (photographic proof below for you cynics) and another landmark moment pasted for TeamBrophy, I am proud to be able to announce that THE SWIM IS ON!

20121110-171630.jpg

However, I am sorry to say that I can’t tell you the date of the swim. The team have been swore to secrecy until our launch event on November 30th. So if you want to find out the date for yourself, get down to B4|Bar @ Aston university for our launch event where all will be revealed.

That’s all folks

Andy

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Ben Brophy

Ross Davenport

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Ben Brophy

I was saddened to hear recently that TeamGB swimmer Ross Davenport has retired from competitive swimming, citing that he did not feel that he could be competitive at the next Olympic games in Rio. The sport has lost not only a fine athlete, being a triple Olympian don’t come easily, but also a gentleman of a man. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Ross in September as he helped coach at an open water event in Box End lake in Bedfordshire.

Ross gave me some fantastic tips for my channel swim and from a entirely selfish perspective, I hope his retirement will give him more time to coach community events. But wherever his future lies, I wish him all the best.

Ross and Ben at Box End Lake, Bedford

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