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During the second week of September 2012 a group of 6 (plus one reserve) will be camped out in Dover waiting... Waiting for a call to tell us that the tide and weather is right and it's time to swim the Channel!  It could be a beautiful sunny day, it cold be a cold and breezy night. Possibly even raining...

We will rotate swimming for an hour at a time wearing only a swimming costume, goggles, hat and goosefat (or vaseline, yuk!)! During that time we are not allowed to touch the support boat or another person, if we do it will not be considered an "official" Channel swim (although for charitable purposes it would still count).

Called the "Everest of swimming", the Channel is still one of the most challenging and sought after swimming events in the World. Twice the number of people have climbed Everest than have successfully swum the Channel. The shortest crossing is 22 miles, but with tides and currents the distance actually swum can be considerably longer.

Prior to this we will have to have passed medicals and attended at least two training sessions in Dover.  We currently all pool swim several times a week and, at the moment, sea swim every Sunday.  We are currently training in wetsuits but generally go in for a short time in just a costume.  Obviously once the winter is over it will be just costumes.

Aspire are a UK registered charity (Charity no. 1075317) who assist people with Spinal Cord Injury. This can have a devastating effect on the thousands of people who become paralysed each year. Through its projects and programmes, Aspire offers practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK so that they can lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, in work places and in leisure time. Although UK registered, Aspire also offers assistance to anyone living in the Isle of Man.

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