A VISUALLY impaired man from Brent took the plunge to raise money and awareness for his local library.

Marcos Sanjurjo, 29, of College Road,Kensal Green, completed a 20-length sponsored swim in record time at aspecialist hydrotherapy pool and raised s200 for the Save KensalLibrary campaign.

Mr Sanjurjo said: I was determined to complete it because its for a cause I feel very strongly about.

Thelibrary is so important to my community. It is somewhere quiet forpeople to sit, relax, read books, newspapers and use the computers.The vulnerable people in the community need the library. They sometimescant afford to buy books, CDs and DVDs so they can borrow them, thanksto the library.

Mr Sanjurjo has a sight impairment and reduced mobility as a result of cerebral palsy.

Heundertook the challenge at the Anne Wall Centre in Barnet, run by thedeafblind charity Sense, where he regularly uses the hydrotherapy poolto build his core muscle strength and to help improve his mobility andfitness.

Mr Sanjurjo alsovolunteers at a temporary pop-up library outside the closed Kensal RiseLibrary, helping to lend books and talking to members of the communityabout the campaign.

ClarkMullen, assistant day service manager from Sense, said: We are allvery proud of Marcos here at the day centre. The determination andspeed that Marcos accomplished the swim in was a sight to behold.

What a fantastic individual.

To make a donation to support Mr Sanjurjos sponsored swim, call the Anne Wall Centre on 020 8449 0964.