Three men to swim from Mallorca to Menorca for leukaemia research

Starting from the Cala Ratjada area of Capdepera between tomorrow (Wednesday) and July 30, the swim will cover 40 kilometres.

The men have already raised 43,000 euros ahead of their trek – but want to get to 75,000 euros to fund a complete research team.

Jacobo Parages, Félix Campano and Peio Ormazábal have set up the Facebook site, Tres hombres contra el mar ('Three men against the sea') and on Twitter, the hashtag #Mójate ('get yourself wet') through which internet users can make donations.

The sponsored swim is the brainchild of Jacobo, 47, from Madrid who has suffered from the debilitating and painful rheumatic condition Espondilitis Anquilosante, which leads to a gradual hardening of the joints, for 20 years.

He had to sleep sitting up for five years because of the pain, but he has never let this stop him setting ambitious personal goals and achieving them – in fact, he believes he would never have managed to get so far if it had not been for his condition.

“This illness has never beaten me – quite the opposite,” Jacobo reveals.

“I don't know what my life would have been like if I hadn't had Espondilitis, but I'm sure I would never have done many of the things I have since it started.”

Last year, Jacobo swam the Strait of Gibraltar to raise funds for children and adults with Down's Syndrome.

Soon after this, he was diagnosed with cancer after a malignant tumour was found, which is why he now intends to support leukaemia research.