FRIENDS and relatives of former Mr Cumbria Billy Holliday have completed a sponsored swim for the hospital that saved his life – twice.

Billy’s supporters joined him on Wednesday, swimming lengths of the Workington Leisure Centre pool in support of James Cook Hospital in Middlesborough. It had supported Billy through an open-heart op 14 years ago and again last October, and the family wanted to give something back.

Billy’s mother Margaret launched a “thank you” fund after his first op. Billy said: “I still wasn’t right to take part last time, but this time was totally different.”

Having always lived an active life, in 2017 Billy achieved one of his biggest goals and won the Mr Cumbria bodybuilding title.

Billy had open-heart surgery again in October 2018 but he did not let his health problems beat him.

Margaret’s great-niece Keeley Holliday made the trip from America to dive in to help the cause, and others joining Billy on the swim were Steven Clay and Pat Carr, who had just returned from swimming in Crummock Water (both are attempting a Lakeland swimming endurance challenge, with Pat raising money for Tapout-Knockout martial arts club’s new training facility).

but for Steven: “It’s just a personal goal.”

“You can’t beat challenges.”

To contribute to Billy Holliday’s fundraiser in aid of James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/billy-holliday

To support Pat Carr’s cause, which will support the start-up of Tapout-Knockout’s new training facility, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y5excpop