Swimming the Channel for cancer charity

Commodore Laurie Brokenshire has successfully swum the length of the English Channel after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

For a lot of us, this kind of news can be as debilitating as the illness itself, but this former Royal Navy commander turned his pain into something wonderful for others.

Joined by his family, they took to the water in Fowey, Cornwall and swum the equivalent length of the Channel in relay to make dry land in Plymouth.

Laurie had done this previously, 30 years ago as a younger man, and back then he did it by himself. Since those days, he spent his career in the navy training and shaping the lives of hundreds of servicemen and women.

He and his family called their relay swim ABC, which stands for A Broken Shire Clan. The theme of the campaign was the number 30, as the distance covered was 30 miles, the fundraising target was £30,000, and the timing marked 30 years since Laurie's solo swim.

They have almost managed to raise the money with their efforts and it will be divided among three different charities important to Laurie.

On the day of the relay, he and his family were supported by members of the Royal Marines, who were aboard a safety boat to make sure everyone was safe, particularly considering Laurie's dangerous condition.

It is always difficult when a family member falls seriously ill and is no longer able to work, but often this can be harder for members of the Armed Forces.

This is why charities like SSAFA, Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion are such valuable resources. They don't just offer finance, they offer real support and a lifeline to those who are serving and have served, as well as their families.

Laurie Brokenshire's story of his illness and pushing through to raise awareness and money for charity is one that should certainly inspire.