I completed the swim in 15 hours and 27 minutes after being pushed sideways by strong winds near the french coast.

A 10 minute video is available on YouTube (just search for spriggs channel swim).

I became friends with Annette and Andy (pictured above with their three boys) at university 25 years ago. They both swam with me in the Oxford University swimming team. Annette died from malignant melanoma last October, shortly after this photo was taken.

Annette had been under the care of a Professor Dalgleish who was working on a vaccine for this type of cancer 10 years ago until the trials were terminated due to a change in direction of the sponsor.

I had already planned to attempt to swim the channel 1 year before, and when I visited Annette in hospital in the last days of her life, I knew that I had to help raise money for a charity helping to prevent this dreadful illness.

My attempt is planned (weather permitting) for the first week in September. 21 miles in murky cold water following a small fishing boat. My acclimatisation began on 1st May in Dover Harbour in water of 9°C.

Please support me in my attempt by giving generously in memory of my friend Annette. Your money can really make a difference in the search for a cure.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.