WHEN most adults learn to swim they are rightly proud to simply manage the length of a pool.

But for one Cleator Moor man, who only mastered swimming a few years ago and can’t resist a challenge, he has set his sights on something a bit more ambitious – the Channel.

Ryan McDowell, 28, loves pushing himself to the limits, while raising money for a charity close to his heart.

Four years ago he ran the highest marathon in the world, from Mount Everest base camp. The following year he did a 24-hour run on a Whitehaven track. In 2019, he completed the 10k Great North Swim.

And over the year he has raised thousands of pounds for Make-A-Wish, which grants magical wishes to enrich the lives of children and young people with life-threatening conditions.

Ryan is married to Kathryn and has sons, Curtis, eight, and Jacob, three. “It’s such a good charity. The illnesses these kids have is absolutely heartbreaking. To grant a wish and give them a boost would mean an awful lot,” he said.

He plans to swim the English Channel next July and expects to take around 13 hours. From Dover to Calais is 21 miles and he will be supported by a boat, although he is not allowed to touch the vessel at any point.

“Because of the tides and currents you can end up swimming 26 miles,” said Ryan, who has to do a six-hour qualifying swim, wearing only swimming trunks in water below 15.5C.

His training involves a weekly four-kilometre lake swim, usually in Loweswater, Crummock or Buttermere.

“I really enjoy swimming, A few years I couldn’t swim. I learned as a kid from my friend’s grandad but as I got older I forgot,” said Ryan, a systems engineer at Sellafield. “A few years ago I wanted to do a sprint triathlon and realised I couldn’t swim so learned again and realised I was all right.”

The keen runner, cyclist and fell walker said: “I’m really excited. I like to have a goal and while it’s a long way away it good to have something to work towards.”

Go to: www.justgiving.com/ryanschannelswim