In June, six intrepid swimmers from the University of Oxford will race against the Cambridge team across the English Channel in a relay from Dover to Calais.

Every two years since 1998, Oxford have competed against Cambridge in the Varsity Channel Relay Swim. This is our 12th time taking on Cambridge, after it was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are counting on your support to help us get to the start line, and eventually to France!

This year in memory of Nick Thomas, who co-founded the relay and was an endless source of support, we will be raising money for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to Nick and his family's heart. 50% of all the money we raise will be donated to this charity.

One swimmer will be in the water at all times, each of us swimming for an hour and rotating around the team until we reach French shores. We will be following a piloted boat for the whole route and those who are not in the water will be cheering avidly from deck! As a six person relay, the crossing typically takes between 8 and 12 hours. Wetsuits are not allowed for the swim, so our only protection from the waves (not to mention jellyfish) will be a swimming costume, a cap, a pair of goggles and a hardy mentality.

We will be training in Queensford Lake and Port Meadow to help us acclimatise to the cold. The water is expected to be around 15 degrees at the time of our swim. For context, typical 'cold' swimming pools are about 27 degrees! Given the extreme and highly unpredictable conditions, the swim provides a great opportunity for each swimmer to test their limits.

In normal times we would raise some of our funds by holding fundraising events and socials, but this year due to Covid-19 and social distancing rules this will unfortunately be unable to happen, so we are hoping to crowdfund. By supporting us, you will be helping us to cover the substantial cost of the pilot boat, the registration with the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation and transport to Dover, as well as supporting an extremely worthwhile charity.

Thank you so much for reading our story, and in anticipation for any donations you are able to give.

Lara, Max, Sophie, Andrew, Spencer, Jackson, Luiza, Michael & Imogen