On or soon after 13th August 2011, I will join the Marlins relay team crossing the Channel for the Aspire Charity www.aspire.org.uk.

My original fundraising for Aspire was first back in 2006, which involved swimming 22 miles or the equivalent of the Channel in my local pool.

However life changed when the email arrived from Aspire on 18th June 2010 about the Real Channel Challenge! I have always considered this globally-respected swim as my Everest and have been mentally preparing ever since.

Serious preparations for the physical challenge started in earnest in November 2010 with a qualifying swim at the Aspire Stanmore pool, which is part of superb sporting and other facilities made available to those with spinal injuries.

Being accepted by Aspire was a real high - swimming is my only form of exercise and a real passion. A team of five like-minded people and an experienced boat leader has also been inspirational.

Having spent the winter updating my trusty technique, the real challenge started with cold water conditioning in May this year. Brighton and sea temperatures of around 10F were to earn me the nickname 'cold' Pete for good reason!

Further weekend training in Dover at the beginning of June and July culminated in a two-hour swim at under 16F, which finally qualified us all, according to CSPF the governing body, to make the attempt.

Each team member will take turns to swim for an hour with the number of swims determined by the overall distance covered, which can be affected by tides and weather conditions.

Being number four in the running order means I should swim for the first time around daybreak, which is about the time I normally swim. Recovery time (from the uncontrolled shivering) is around one hour.

Whatever the hardship, it can be nothing like as difficult as for the average of four people a day that sustains a spinal cord injury and told they may never walk again. Aspire is there to support their home, personal and working lives but like all charities needs donations.

Your contribution will help those trying to build or maintain a level of independence in their lives that many of us take for granted. JustGiving donations go straight to Aspire and together we can make a real difference to their lives.