Blind swimmer to attempt Halls Head to Cottesloe swim for Guide Dogs WA

A blind Paralympian will attempt to swim an 80km route from Halls Head to Cottesloe to raise money for Guide Dogs WA.

Jeremy McClure will set off from Doddi's Beach at 8am on Saturday, January 28.

The swim is expected to take him and his team around 27 hours to complete.

Jeremy lost his eye sight when he was just 15 and at 17 he competed in his first Paralympic Games in Athens.

From then he competed for Australia in the 100m backstroke at Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio in 2016.

"In recent years I have found a new passion in open water swimming and pushing my limits," Mr McClure said.

PIC: Jeremy McClure - Paralympian/Facebook

Jeremy has completed 11 solo Rottnest Channel swims.

He was also the first person to swim from Dirk Hartog Island to Denham in February 2022 and just six months ago he set another record, swimming from the Abrolhos Islands to Geraldton.

"I want to demonstrate to people both able bodied and disabled that anything is possible and there is always a way around achieving something, no matter the obstacles," he said.

Mr McClure will be tethered to a team of 'guide' swimmers who will act as his eyes for the swim on Saturday.

A team of kayakers and boats will also be responsible for keeping the swimmers on track as well as providing the team with food and drink every 30 minutes throughout the swim.

A shark shield will also be attached to one of the kayaks.

"I want to extend an invite to anyone and everyone to come down to any beach along the way," he said.

"We'll probably be only about 100-metres off the shoreline...if you want to swim, paddle or stand-up paddle board you're more than welcome to." 

Jeremy is expected to arrive in Cottesloe around 10.30am on Sunday and is encouraging people to meet him at the finish line as well as donate to Guide Dogs WA.

"I have chosen to raise funds and awareness for Guide Dogs WA as they have assisted me significantly with my first guide dog Presley and my current guide dog, Nina," he said.

To donate click here.

PIC: Jeremy McClure - Paralympian/Facebook