A ten-year-old boy from Hanham completed the Swim for Stroke challenge by swimming 10,000 metres in one month.
Gabriel Davis, a pupil at Christ Church CE Primary School, completed 400 pool lengths totalling 6.2 miles and raised £340 for the Stroke Association.
A keen swimmer, Gabriel also enjoys running, bike rides and going for walks with his dog, Audrey. He loves the natural world and hopes to be a palaeontologist when he is older. He is also an avid Pokemon card collector and a fount of knowledge when it comes to anything dinosaur-related.
Gabriel had been swimming for a good few years and, in 2024, he tried out for a local amateur swimming club. Learning about a swimming challenge run by the Stroke Association, Gabriel told his family he wanted to sign up and complete it before his next birthday in April.
His mum, Carlee Davis, said: Gabriel is a very thoughtful boy and always wants to try and help others. His Grampy, who helps take him to his swimming lessons each week, had a stroke in May 2017, so Gabriel wanted to do it for him and anyone else affected by the stroke.”
Gabriel said: “It meant a lot to do the challenge for the Stroke Association as they helped my Grampy. It was quite hard to swim for the challenge but I really enjoy swimming so that helped”.
Gabriel swam during his weekly swimming sessions at his club and also at weekends to make up the lengths. On several occasions he swam up to 60 lengths at a time.
Mum Carlee said: “Gabriel raised £340 for the Stroke Association and we are all super proud of him. He has been touched by the support he has received, especially from his school friends and family, who sponsored and supported him through this challenge. He even received a free cake of choice from Parsons bakery in Hanham for his efforts.”
To find out more about Gabriel’s swimming challenge or to make a donation visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/gabedavis25