Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

STOP PRESS - DALE DID ULLSWATER!  Set off too fast and hit a wall about 2km from end. One half (Mirams) of support crew capsized within 10 mins of setting off and had to be rescued by other half of support crew (Lisa). A sailboat came at speed within 6ft of killing me and 3ft from capsizing Gary again. Weather rubbish at time (but gorgeous the day after).  Almost didn't get there - clutch starting slipping the day before we were due to leave.  Special thanks to Abacus Auto Services for sorting it out literally with 10 minutes notice.

Last year  "Dale did Coniston" - a 8.5km swim that raised £890 for the MS Society.  Now its time for this year's challenge to swim the length of Ullswater in the Lake District.

Ullswater is 11.8km / 7.3 miles long, an average of 40m deep and very cold - I'll probably be in the water about 5 hours.  Its about 50% longer than last year so I'm hoping to raise 50% more.

Ullswater was host to a couple of Donald Cambell's early water speed record challenges.  Now its a bit more sedate with steamers ready to plow me down instead.  My ten legged support crew (my wife and two dogs) will be rowing the entire length too.

I've been training pretty hard since Coniston with a cold swim at Bala in November, a stupidly cold swim at Loch Ness in February and a Lakesathon this June.  Its taken a lot of motivation, fights with boredom and a sneezy chlorine allergy!  So dig deep!  I now know every tile in Studley Pool intimately.

My wife's mom was affected by MS for over 30 years so the charity is understandably personal to the both of us and an obvious charity for us to support.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: MS Society will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support, Dale