In July 2018, I will be embarking on the challenge of swimming a gruelling 22 miles in 13 degree water across the English Channel to raise funds for a project ran by The British Asian Trust.

We are working together in the red-light districts of Mumbai to protect children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. Child trafficking and child prostitution is a billion-dollar business in India. It is estimated that 1.2 million children in India are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation.

The organisation runs three night care centres for children at risk, as well as shelter homes and a residential training centre for girls rescued from the trafficking trade. This project will support India’s first online resource centre on prevention of sexual offences against children and provide 80 girls and young women 15+ with a rehabilitation care program to build better futures.

I am honoured to be one of the first EVER British Asian women to take on this challenge, with only just short of 1500 people to EVER complete the swim. Taking on average 13 hours, in light and darkness I will be battling with jelly fish, ship tankers and sea sickness but I am prepared to train hard to support an incredible cause that I am so passionate about.

With a huge challenge ahead of me, both physically and mentally, I would be hugely grateful for any donations towards this life changing project.

Thank you for your support.

Leah