They took part in the open-swimming challenge at midnight on Saturday 15th July in what has become an annual event since its inception in 2011. The Torne river is free-flowing water with temperatures between 16 and 19 degrees celsius. They started from the Finish shore and completed the 3.5km swim in just 34 minutes due to the strong currents. They arrived the day before they left, due to the time zone change!

Tom said. "It was daylight at midnight and the artic scenery was incredible".

Tom is a teacher at Ipswich School and had been in training for six months for the swim. He decided to take on the challenge to support the Ipswich School Bursary Fund. The fund helps any pupil, regardless of their family's financial circumstances, to attend the School, including five Ukrainian students who joined the School in September 2022.

Tom commented, “Being able to swim between two countries, across the Arctic Circle Line, and in the middle of the night was too good a chance to miss!  A knee injury meant running has not been possible for many months, so training for this swim has been a great way to keep active whilst raising money for a great cause.”

So far, Tom has raised a staggering £1557.00 via his Just Giving page. Congratulations Tom and a big 'thank you' from the Development Office at Ipswich School. To donate please go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-faiers-1685885420870?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=page/tom-faiers-1685885420870&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=9e28d8c253334d3d96ae0efbba7f9aa1

To find out more regarding the Ipswich School Founding Futures Fund please click HERE