Live service status

Timetables

  1. Home
  2. Press Releases

  3. Wightlink’s Chief Executive makes a splash to tackle motor neurone disease

Wightlink’s Chief Executive makes a splash to tackle motor neurone disease

5th July 2022

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield is embarking on a gruelling challenge this summer – swimming more than five kilometres across the Solent for charity.

Keith and his daughter Jo Hudson will be taking part in Swim the Solent on Monday 8 August 2022, helping raise money for people living with motor neurone disease (MND) and research into the condition.

“Wightlink supports many charities and good causes on the Isle of Wight and mainland, but I was personally challenged to take part in this one,” explains Keith.

“I started open water swimming when Covid closed the public pools and quickly discovered the health benefits of swimming in the sea, rivers and lakes. I have tackled some shorter distances of about a mile but this crossing from Gosport to Ryde will be more than twice my previous record. MND is a cruel incurable disease and I am delighted to play my part to help defeat it.”

Jo is a keen swimmer but hasn’t had much opportunity to swim open water for the last few years so she will have to work up to this 5km challenge.

Ian Pratt set up his MND Foundation after he was diagnosed with the condition in 2012. It increases awareness of MND, supports people with the disease and aids research into its causes. Since 2013, the annual swim has raised more than £200,000 for the charity.

Picture caption: Keith Greenfield and his daughter Jo Hudson in training to swim the Solent 

Notes to editors:

For more information, please contact:

Duty Media Officer