A MAN has told of his ’emotional’ charity swim in tribute to his late father who himself loved to be in the water.
Dan Pallett, from Malvern, completed the 10km challenge down the River Dart earlier this month and has so far raised more than £1,800 to be split between St Richard’s Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The 43-year-old sports presenter who many may recognise from BBC Midlands Today, took part in the challenge in memory of his father Paul Pallett who died in December last year.
Dan said: “I felt very emotional and thought of how my dad kept trying to get into the water even when he was ill.
“We’d support him until the water allowed him to float about. He just loved to swim and be in the water and he’d have loved the whole friendly feel of the Dart 10km.”
Paul suffered from Motor Neurone Disease and was supported by St Richard’s towards the end of his life.
Dan added: “I talked to my dad about which charities to support with the swim and we both agreed that giving something back to St Richard’s was vital.
“My dad had Motor Neurone Disease which put huge pressures on us all both mentally and physically as his condition worsened. The support we had from St Richard’s was superb throughout.
“My dad had excellent medical support, night carers which were invaluable and also great emotional support for us all.
“This especially helped my dad’s wife Jan who was with my him through every step.”
People can still visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanPallett to donate to his causes.
