On or soon after 13th August 2011, I will join five other swimmers as part of a relay team crossing the English Channel for the Aspire Charity.

Preparations started in November 2010 with a qualifying swim at the Aspire Stanmore pool, which is part of superb sporting facilities made available to those with spinal injuries.

I never swim in the sea, I find it far too cold, not even in the Med! So this was going to be an interesting challenge getting used to swimming in the English sea with just a modest set of swim shorts, goggles, yellow swim hat and a bit of vaseline.

Cold baths over winter are miserable but was phase 1 of acclimatising to the cold water.  Despite what Mrs Whitehead suggested, scented candles do not make a cold bath more relaxing!!!

Then training weekends at Brighton and Dover followed from April.  Oh my goodness - these remain very cold sessions - and I'm sure some spectators briefly considered whether the entrance into the sea is a suicide attempt - so miserable is my face!!  But of course, the swimming in the sea is all part of my vigorous training schedule.

I have now completed the 2 hour qualifying swim in Dover and this was a huge achievement - so it's all go, go, go for the swim in August.

I'm swim position 1 meaning I go first, so have the enviable task of swimming in the pitch black for my initial slot as we're setting off around 1am - I've no idea of how that is going to feel - not one of those things you can easily prepare for.  There is something wrong about swimming in shipping lanes with a glow stick stuck down your shorts - just think of this when considering whether to donate.

I've worked very hard for this challenge and am really pleased to  receive dontations of support for the benefit of Aspire. They are a wonderful charity and really care about making a difference for people who have suffered from a spinal injury.  Some of you may not have heard of them unless you know someone who has suffered this type of injury - this is why you should support the swim and Aspire - these non-mainstream charities can often be forgotten in favour of the more well known cancer charities, etc - please, please, please show your appreciation by making a donation - Aspire and I would be very grateful.

JustGiving donations will go straight to Aspire and with your generous assistance we can make a real difference to the lives of others. Did you know that 4 people every day sustain a spinal cord injury and are told that they may never walk again? It can happen to anyone of us at any time. Aspire provides essential services such as accessible housing, grants, IT faciliaties and practical support and advice to help people from injury to independence. It costs £2000 for a customised wheelchair.