Doctor runs, swims, and cycles 121.5 miles for charity

18 August 2022

​A doctor has swum, cycled and ran around Jersey – in a back-to-back challenge never thought to have been undertaken before – to raise awareness for a charity that supports former intensive care patients.

 Alun Roberts completed the epic 121.5-mile feat in aid of Jersey Critical Care Survivors (JCCS), a charity set up to support Islanders who may suffer from physical, psychological, or cognitive problems following their discharge from intensive care. The charity is chaired by intensive care nurse Holly Fisher with trustees made up of ex patients, family members of ex patients and another intensive care nurse.

 Alun, a 42-year-old intensive care consultant completed a 30 mile swim, followed by a 44 mile cycle ride and a 47.5 mile run alongside friend Mark Grenyer in 28 hours. The pair believe this is the first time that anyone has completed a back-to-back swimming, cycling and running challenge around the Island and they only did it with a small support crew of family and friends.

Although Alun, who is the deputy chair of the charity, is an experienced long-distance runner, it was the first time he had dug out his road bike in more than four years and it was the longest swim he has ever done to date.

Alun, married to wife Mel and father to sons, nine years old Theo and eight years old Artie, said: "I knew if I got to the end of the swim I could suffer through the rest. We nearly had to call off the swim around the north coast as the swell was so strong. My goggles were pulled off and because of the swell I threw up twice. I'm chuffed that I've done it but there's no way I ever doing it again!

"I really wanted to do this to raise awareness for the charity. It was set up three years ago by a nurse and it runs a monthly support group for people who have spent time in the intensive care unit. Physically some people never recover following admission to intensive care while some may have issues with their cognition, are unable to return to work or have long-term problems with anxiety and depression."

To find out more about JCCS or to donate funds in recognition of Alun and Mark's challenge visit www.jccs.je.

Alun Roberts is in the white top in the picture and Mark Greyner is in the blue vest.