A TEACHER took the plunge and showed he had real heart as he took on icy temperatures to raise money for charity.

Wey Valley teacher and supporter of the Will Mackaness Trust, Mark Salmon, has been on a mission to raise money for AED defibrillators at the Wey Valley School campus, Lodmoor Parkrun and the Official Test Centre at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

He has managed to raise more than £1,200 and also gained grants from the British Heart Foundation.

To raise the money he has taken on 28 consecutive days of cold water swimming.

Mr Salmon, has taken the plunge in Weymouth Bay, at the sailing academy, Church Ope Cove, Newton’s Cove and in the French and Italian Alps to raise funds.

He is the head of year eight at the Wey Valley School, as well as the school’s lead on outdoor education and a keen triathlete and a member of the Bustinskin Triathlon Club and the Egdon Heath Harriers Running Club, but he still found this a gruelling challenge.

Mr Salmon said the challenge had been worthwhile if a little daunting at times.

He said: “The cold water swim has been a real challenge with Baltic-like conditions at times, especially at 2,000 metres in the Alps but it has been worth it with so many kind donations via the Virgin Money giving page for this worthwhile cause.

“I have been cold water swimming for two years now but have only managed six consecutive days in the past so this has been a real challenge.

The hardest swims have been at 7am before work.”

He also spoke about the importance of defibrillators.

He said: “Research has shown that traditional CPR has a 15 per cent survival rate where these automated external defibrillators have a 74 per cent chance. If given within a minute of a heart attack they have a 90 per cent rate of survival.”

Sara Adams, principal at the Wey Valley School commended Mr Salmon.

She said: “Mark is a dedicated and passionate PE and outdoor education teacher and Mark’s resilience to challenge himself with gruelling cold water swims at this time of year and raise funds for a cause that will benefits the local community should be applauded.”

The Virgin Money giving page is still open for donations and can be found by searching Mark Salmon at www.uk.virginmoneygiving.

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