Grandad, 82, hoping to walk on water for 24 hours
BBCAn 82-year-old grandad has said he is aiming for a world record by "walking on water" for 24 hours.
Using a "specially designed watercraft", Tony Fahey is leading a team of five family members at Sale Water Park in Trafford, Greater Manchester, in a mission to raise £1m for the Make A Wish Foundation. The charity helps children with critical illnesses and their families to make their dreams come true.
Tony, from Cheshire, began his challenge on Thursday with his two sons and two grandsons.
The idea came to him in the aftermath of a life-changing accident in February 2021, when he was struck by a car travelling at 50mph while out on his daily walk.
Explaining the design of the craft, Tony told the BBC: "It's actually a boat with a cross-trainer on - that's the best way to explain it."
Tony said he and team-mates had been to the gym five days a week to prepare for the gruelling challenge.
"It's not an easy thing to do because it goes right through your body when you're doing it," he said.
"There's no breaks, you're literally fighting."
Tony described himself as "mentally fit" and said bringing smiles to the faces of children who are suffering would motivate him.
"The good thing is, they can see light at the end of the tunnel and that's why I'm doing it."
Tony's son Seb Fahey, who will be tag-teaming the challenge alongside his father, added: "When he first came up with the idea he was very much an invalid after the the crash that he'd had - he couldn't move even across the room.
"So to be here today, we really didn't have much belief that they'd ever be able to do this, but he is one of the most tenacious people I've ever met and he's worked very hard to bring himself back to fitness to be able to do this for charity."
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