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A Guernsey man who swam round Jersey in aid of a teenage cancer charity completed the gruelling 55km swim in just under 10-and-a-half hours – the quickest individual time so far this year.
Justin Meades was inspired to complete the challenge to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The charity cared for his friend Andrew Phillips, who lost his battle to cancer at the age of 16.
Justin described Andrew as a "dare devil" and a "thrill-seeker by nature", adding: "This challenge seemed an apt tribute to him and a great opportunity to raise much needed funds for other children and their families affected by cancer."
The avid sea-swimmer explained that the idea for the round-Jersey challenge came about whilst he was walking along the cliff paths with his partner.
"It was the anniversary of Andrew, and we were chatting about it," he said.
"I said, 'I'd really like to swim the Channel one day'. That was my dream. I said, 'You know what, I'd really like to do it in honour of Andrew'."
Justin took on the swim on 20 September 2024, and was expecting to complete it in around 12 hours.
He explained: "Every time we were sort of preparing for it or training or thinking I would do the swim, we were looking at 12 hours, and we sort of thought it's a 12 hour swim.
"It's quite tidal in places, so you get quite a lot of tidal assistance, and then you get quite a bit of where the tides meet.
"It's a little bit trickier, more challenging, but I thought as long as I could keep rotating my arms and floating and swimming for 12 hours, I'd be okay."
Pictured: Justin Meades completed the 55km swim in 10 hours and 23 minutes – the fastest individual time this year.
Justin admitted that, at some points, he contemplated giving up.
"I was contemplating getting out because I'd just seen a compass jellyfish the size of a dustbin lid, and it had come past, and I was a bit nervous," he said.
"I went to tell them that I've had enough, and they went, 'You're doing really well. You're one of the quickest swimmers this year. You're going to come in around the 11 hour mark.' And I thought, 'you're joking'."
When he completed the swim, it emerged that Justin wasn't just "one of quickest" – but had achieved the fastest time this year.
However, he is most delighted by the amount of money that he has managed to raise for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
At the time of writing, Justin's fundraising page had topped £8,900 – almost £4,000 more than he had set out to raise.
The swimmer said he has been "blown away by the support".
"The goal amount was enough that someone gets a dedicated nurse at home and at the hospital for over six months," he explained.
"So the fact that we've managed to do that, for someone, to change someone's life... it makes me quite emotional."
Justin added: "I think I'm very lucky with the generosity of people, really, and it is such a great cause. A lot of people are touched by cancer, and it really does affect many people's lives."
He continued: "I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who a supported me, just the overwhelming support that everyone has given me, not only for this swim, but just in general.
"I think I'm really lucky to have a really loving community of family and friends, and I feel very lucky to be to be in this position. So thank you."
There is still time to donate to Justin's fundraising page HERE.
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