SWIMMERS will be taking to the water in the middle of the night next weekend to raise vital funds for charity.

For one man, participating in the Isabel Hospice Midnight Swim will have extra poignancy.

Adrian McCormack’s wife Hazel died of a brain tumour at the end of last month.

Having been battling with the condition since 2008, she was admitted to the hospice’s in-patient unit in January after suffering a massive seizure.

Adrian said: “She was in a coma for three days, but pulled through and was cared for to such a level that you feel humble.”

The Welwyn man is pulling together a team of some 20 to 30 family and friends to take the plunge at Hatfield Swim Centre on the night of Saturday, March 26.

He said: “I’m hoping to pay the hospice back for everything they’ve done for the six weeks they looked after my wife, and looked after me as well.

“Everyone there has been brilliant, not just with Hazel, but with the whole family. I was amazed how supportive they were.

“Most of my swimmers are attempting to swim about four miles each and we hope to be able to get up to a total of 100 miles during the evening.

Adrian is a keen swimmer now – something he couldn’t say in the past.

“Up until a couple of years ago, I was pretty unfit and overweight. I decided to start swimming again, something I had always enjoyed but hadn’t done for a long time.

“In the space of a few months I lost around two-and-a-half stone by swimming four times a week and was spurred on to part in a couple of triathlons last year.”

Adrian revealed he’s hoping to raise around �3,000. You can sponsor the team online by clicking the link above right.

Alternatively, if you want to take part in the Midnight Swim, which is sponsored this year by Veolia Water, you can still sign up.

The event is taking place at two venues – Hatfield Swim Centre and the pool at Haileybury College.

Call the hospice’s fundraising team on 01707 382500 or log on to the hospice website (see link above right).