Brian Hopkins during his 600 length swimming challenge. CREDIT: Brian Hopkins

Submitted by Kate Cleaver

With traditional fundraising methods closed to top Muscular Dystrophy UK member Brian Hopkins this year, and in the knowledge that funding for the charity was desperately needed, he devised a Covid-safe idea, which he used to sign up for the MDUK Big60 Challenge.

For 25 years, the managing director of Birmingham based engineering company E C Hopkins Ltd, has been involved in the organisation of quizzes, cooking barbecues and making door-to-door and street collections for MDUK. But this year he has stayed at home, kept his distance and swam 600 lengths of his 10 yard long swimming pool. This was 3.4 miles in total.

He said: “As you know, it has been a terrible year for charities, as most of their fundraising events were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Muscular Dystrophy UK has been supporting people suffering from 60 different strains of muscle-wasting conditions for over 60 years so it has asked its regular supporters to think of fundraising activities with a ‘60’ theme. In my case 60 lengths did not seem much of a challenge so I opted for 600.”

Brian, 70, from Solihull, has chaired the Muscular Dystrophy UK Knowle and Dorridge branch for 25 years, in which time it has raised over £380,000. He started fundraising following the diagnosis of his nephew with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Sadly, his nephew died 23 years ago aged just 17.

Muscular Dystrophy regional development manager, Midlands and Anglia, Gurdev Singh said: “The truly fantastic commitment of long-term supporters like Brian has helped save our charity, which faced a £2.8 million drop in income as a result of the pandemic, this year.”

If you would like to support Brian in his fundraising efforts you can donate here.

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