Yep I'm bonkers. We all know that.

To confirm it I’ve spent the last year.. Winter included.. acclimatising to the cold water of the dirty old river at the end of the road.. (the Thames).. and upping my swim training with Teddington Swimming Club.

My goal. To swim the English Channel.

Since I was a child I've wanted to do this, though it always felt too big a challenge. Now I can have a go within a relay team and this makes it feel less daunting. All the same, for my part it will be around 6 miles of open water at 16 degrees, or maybe if I am lucky a few degrees warmer with a few jellyfish thrown in for fun.

The relay crossing is organised by SwimTayka whose aim is to raise funds to provide free swimming lessons and drowning prevention education to underprivileged children who live along the earth’s open waters: rivers, lakes, seas and oceans.

Being able to swim is not only a life-affirming experience but also life-saving, especially for children in poorer countries who might otherwise never have the opportunity to learn.

I am asking graciously for your sponsorship to this worthy cause.

The cost for me to do the crossing is £750 which goes towards training and the pilot boat used when doing the swim. I will paying for this myself.

So any sponsorship you offer as well as being gratefully received will be 100% donated to the SwimTakya cause.