A Blackburn swimming pool has been hosting special sessions for a rugby star who is looking to swim the English channel for charity.

Mickii Edwards is leading one of two teams filled with ex rugby league and union players who are competing to swim the channel.

The former Oldham and Swinton winger, from Great Harwood, was at Daisyfield Swimming Pools which is run by Half Fish HQ.

Mickii was joined by Sky TV crews who are filming his exploits for a special documentary.

The 22-mile race across the channel entitled ‘The Big Rugby Swim’ brings together ex-rugby league and union players in two teams of six.

The aim of the event, whilst raising funds, is to create awareness of the charity Head for Change. 

The charity supports former sportspeople suffering from brain injuries, such as Mickii who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia two years ago aged only 48.

Mickii posted: “Over the years I’ve got used to people laughing and saying there’s no way I can do this Channel challenge.

“It was like the rest of the many super human events I’ve done, but the early mornings, the sacrifices to get the job done, a load of mental toughness, resilience and a whole lot of enthusiasm thrown at it now seems to be paying off.

“To have any chance of doing anything in life you can’t have any fear of anything and you need to believe in yourself.

“It certainly is not perfect but from when I first started, where I looked like a Ford Transit van struggling to swim, to now swimming for hours and hours without getting tired.

“This style works for me and some may say with even a bit of grace.

“It’s not long now before the big swim in October. Big thanks to Aiden my coach and all the Half Fish gang at Daisyfield swimming baths in Blackburn they gave me a chance when nobody else was interested and believed in me.

“Best swimming club ever.”

Head for Change is a charitable foundation, pioneering positive change for brain health in sport and supporting ex-players who are affected by neurodegenerative disease as a result of their professional sporting career in rugby and football, such as Mickii who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia two years ago aged only 48.

Trustee and co-founder, Melanie Bramwell Popham, said: "When we first chatted to Mickii Edwards on a call last summer about the idea of getting a team of retired rugby players to swim the Channel it seemed like an incredibly big challenge and somewhat a dream, so I’m truly delighted to be a part of actually making this happen.

“As a small, start-up charity ‘The Big Rugby Swim’ is certainly our biggest and most ambitious challenge yet.

"However, the potential for the amount of awareness and fundraising this event will generate makes all the effort and late nights of planning worth it.

"I’m in awe of Alix and all of the other retired players who have signed up to take on this epic challenge; watching the progress of some who could hardly swim a few lengths in January has been inspirational.

"The journey the boys are going on together in the training for this is a special one, taking them back to being part of a team, that sense of camaraderie is brilliant to watch and be a part of.  

"Alix and I weren’t sure how it would work, bringing together two teams from both codes, with a well-known rivalry - but from the first introduction meeting back in January the bonds were built and life-long friendships created."

Lancashire Telegraph:

The two teams competing in The Big Rugby Swim from October 7 are:

Rugby Union: Alix Popham (Captain), Ian Gough, Kieran Low, Carl Hayman, Matt Dwyer and Ben Pegna with Coach, Dave Tonge (Heathwood Swimming) and Team Manager, Melanie Bramwell-Popham. 

Rugby League: Mickii Edwards (Captain), Denis Betts, Jason Critchley,  Mick Cassidy, Kevin Brown and  Cliff Eccles with Coach, Dee Harmer (Fish2Water), and Team Manager, Francis Maloney.

You can find more about Head for Change here