“I recognise that we have the resources and ability to make a difference where other people maybe can’t,” Alex says, “so Capp’s pledge is made on behalf of each and every one of the thousands of families who are helped each year by BCH – including my family. Without them, we would have lost our youngest daughter.”

Alex's Story
It was 29 January 2004, and Coventry had been hit by the worst snowstorm for some time. Sophie Linley, at just 13 months old, was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with co-arctation of the aorta (a narrowed artery). She had already been in and out of hospital for 6 months, but within hours of arriving at BCH she was taken into theatre for her life-saving heart operation. When Capp’s Founding Director, Alex Linley, saw the opportunity to do something to repay Birmingham Children’s Hospital for saving his daughter’s life, he seized it.

Find out more about the Children’s Heart Appeal here and why it’s so important.

Inspired? You can support the Appeal and donate here. Thank you!

And thank you from BCH too...

 “We really appreciate all of Capp’s efforts. We hope that everyone gets behind them and has a positive experience in doing so.” Fidelis Hynam, Birmingham Children’s Hospital

Our Fundraising Activities

We put our “thinking capps” on to come up with some exciting and innovative ways in which we could support the Appeal…

The Realise2 “Have a Heart” Day
On Friday 21 January, we held our second Realise2 “Have a Heart” Day. Realise2 was reduced to just £11.80 (instead of £16.80, saving  30%) and for every sale on that day Capp donated 100% of the proceeds to the Children’s Heart Appeal. Many thanks to everyone who contributed, we raised £3472!!!!

Alex’s Extreme Swim
On Saturday 29 January 2011, 7 years to the day since Sophie’s admission to BCH, Alex Linley swam nearly 300 metres across ice-bound Llyn Llydaw on Mount Snowdon – at a bone-chilling 1C, this is Britain’s coldest lake!

Following Channel Swimming Association rules, Alex wore just his trunks, goggles and a swimming cap! Sign up to follow Alex on Twitter and see how he fared…

As if that wasn’t enough – and being a scientist as well as an entrepreneur – Alex has linked up with Dr. Chris Byrne and colleagues at the University of Exeter, a sports scientist with particular interest in adaptation to extreme temperatures. Dr. Byrne and his team measured Alex’s adaptation to extremely cold water through his training and the swim. As a result, Alex hopes to be the author of 130 academic papers, and the subject of one!

If you think Alex is committed, an inspiration, or just plain mad, sponsor him here.

Alex's Media Coverage Youtube - Key moments of the swim Coventry Telegraph This is Plymouth Birmingham Mail Daily Post This is Devon Birmingham Mail Coventry Telegraph