Brian has a splashing time raising cash to fight Muscular Dystrophy - The Solihull Observer

Brian has a splashing time raising cash to fight Muscular Dystrophy

Solihull Editorial 13th Dec, 2020   0

A BIG HEARTED campaigner against muscular dystrophy from Solihull has made a huge splash for charity.

Brian Hopkins, 70 years young, has swum 600 lengths of his outdoor swimming pool for Muscular Dystrophy UK as part of their MDUK Big60 Challenge.

He said: “The charity has been supporting people suffering from 60 different strains of muscle-wasting conditions for over 60 years so it 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.”




In all Brian, who has chaired the Muscular Dystrophy UK Knowle and Dorridge branch for 25 years, swam the equivalent of 3.4miles in his 10 yard long swimming pool.

And during his time in the chair the branch it has raised more than £380,000 for the good cause.


The managing director of Birmingham based engineering company E C Hopkins Ltd, Brian first started fundraising following the diagnosis of his nephew with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Sadly, his nephew subsequently died 23 years ago aged 17.

So for the past 25 years Brian has been involved with the organisation of quizzes, cooking barbecues and making door-to-door and street collections for MDUK.

And in this Covid-hit year knowing that all charities had been suffering, he decided to take the plunge for the one closest to his heart.

Muscular Dystrophy regional development manager 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.”

In all Brian raised £3,343 smashing his target of £2,000 target.

To add to his total visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Brian-Hopkins9

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