Swimming, whisky, and a whole lot of heart
Ilya Bykov works for HSBC and is a dedicated supporter of The Children's Hospital Charity. This year, he's taking on an epic fundraising challenge, aiming to raise £50K for Sheffield Children's.
by Ilya Bykov, HSBC
This year, I’m diving into something BIG for a brilliant cause — a 1,000 km swim to raise £50,000 for The Children's Hospital Charity!
Sheffield Children’s is a truly special place — one of only three stand-alone specialist children's hospitals in the UK. They look after little ones from emergency care to mental health support, and now they’re building something groundbreaking: the National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT) at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. It's going to be world-class, and I want to help make it happen.
To do that, I’m combining two of my greatest loves: swimming and whisky (don’t worry, not at the same time). I’ll be swimming a whopping 1,000 km at Ponds Forge, clocking up 15–20 km a week with 5 swims a week — basically living in the pool!
Training has been intense — but knowing every metre I swim is helping to change a child’s future makes every aching muscle worth it.
And that’s not all. I’m also organising the biggest whisky charity auction I’ve ever done, gathering rare bottles from distilleries, brokers, and collectors. Plus, thanks to my amazing employer, HSBC, donations will be matched through their Pound for Pound scheme.
Every splash, every bid, and every donation will help create a brighter, healthier future for children. I’ve got a long way to swim (and a lot of whisky to collect), but with your support, I know we can smash this target.
If you fancy helping me to make some serious waves, you can donate at www.justgiving.com/page/ilya-bykov-3 — or just cheer me on next time you’re at Ponds Forge!
Together, we can support Sheffield Children’s and make a real difference for generations to come.