Cricket star swaps whites for a wetsuit

Former England international cricket player Matthew Hoggard will compete in four open water swims in the Great Swim Series to raise money for HIV/AIDS charity Cricket Without Boundaries(CWB).

The 2005 Ashes hero will start his charity challenge with the Great North Swim at Lake Windermere (June 12-14). He will then compete in the Great East Swim in Suffolk on June 20, the Great Manchester Swim at Salford Quays on July 4 and the Great Scottish Swim on August 29.
The swims range in distance from half a mile to 5km.
The former fast bowler, who only begins training for the swims this week, said the challenge of completing the four swims is on a par with some of the most daunting moments of his 67-Test career. “I had plenty of number of nerve-wracking moments in my career, from making my Test debut against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2000 to facing the Aussies in the 2005 Ashes but, not being a swimmer, the thought of lining up with thousands of other people for the Great Swim Series is right up there.”
All money raised will go to supporting CWB’s work, using cricket as a tool for social development in Africa.
To sponsor Matthew please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/MatthewHoggard