World Record swim from Devon to Cornwall

A marine engineer from Plymouth is attempting a world record swim between Devon and Cornwall to raise money for the cancer charity that has supported his mum.

Jacob Russell Roberts, 30, is already an accomplished world record holder and in 2023, along with a team of other keen swimmers, he smashed a world record by swimming from Cornwall to the Scilly Isles.

He did it all for his mum and to raise funds for national charity Macmillan Cancer Support after the support she has received.

Jacob’s latest challenge will see him setting off from Bovisands in Devon, swimming across to Cawsands in Cornwall and back again, completing around 12k in total. His challenge is set to take place between August 6 and 9, depending on weather conditions.

Jacob said: “Cancer can happen to anyone, at any time, as I recently discovered when my beautiful mum was diagnosed with incurable lymphoma cancer. I can’t take my mum’s cancer away, but I can swim for her and raise much needed money.

“The team at the Macmillan Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth have been an amazing support to my mum and have been there for the whole family.”

Jacob is a keen open water swimmer, having swum the English Channel before in record time, raising £14,000 for a spinal injuries charity, and 10K swims for a prostate cancer charity and a charity that provides swimming lessons to children living in poverty.

After his mum Cassie Roberts was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer, he wanted to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support following the support the charity has given the family.

“Why did I do this? The driving force to do the swim was to raise money. With my mum recently diagnosed, I want to support Macmillan Cancer Support services in the South-West. I want to help increase the support she and others who may be in her position can access. Together we can make a real difference!” explained Jacob.

Atalia O’Leary, Macmillan Fundraising Manager, added: “Jacob shows such dedication and commitment, he really is a remarkable person and we all can’t thank him enough for taking on these challenges to raise money for Macmillan.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is here to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer, but they can’t do it without the help of fundraisers like Jacob. The charity relies almost entirely on public donations to make a difference.

Jacob hopes to raise £15,000 for Macmillan from this, and a series of future swims until 2026, including a swim from Eddystone Lighthouse to Plymouth, culminating in his biggest open water swim challenge yet, swimming solo from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 2026.

The Northern Ireland to Scotland swim is well known within the open water swimming community as one of the most dangerous swims in the world and has earned its place in ‘Oceans 7’; the seven hardest swims in the world. His journey to the final event is being documented by SW Productions.

Special thanks to Jason Quintero from ACE Swimming and Rory Williams from Real Coach, who have both given up their time to support Macmillan by training and coaching Jacob for his swims.

Donate to Jacob by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vikingswims