The challenge is to swim 22 miles, 1,416 lengths (the width of the English Channel) at your local baths over 12 weeks starting mid September.

Why? I was a very good swimmer and dreamed of swimming the English channel one day, but as the years went by this seemed less and less likely. When the email came through about this challenge I couldn't ignore it. My wonderful husband, born with spina bifida, had major back surgery in 2012 and since then has really struggled, but puts on such a brave face. I want to do all I can to help others who are going through similar hard times.

Every eight hours someone is paralysed by a Spinal Cord Injury and Aspire provides the essential equipment, advice, housing and grants that spinal cord injured people need to live their lives independently. This is a big challenge, but the more I raise, the more of a difference I'll make, so please be generous!