Tom Calder
London Team Channel Swim 2024
Fundraising for Whitechapel Mission
Story
In September 2024, a group of colleagues from the Deutsche Boerse London office, "Liquid Assets" - Christopher Anderson, Richard Baker, Tim Balin, Tom Calder, Damien Gillespie and Tom Martin - will take on the famous English Channel and traverse the cold water between the south coast of England and the northern shores of France.
The swim will start at or near Shakespeare's Cliff or Samphire Hoe (in between Folkestone and Dover), and aim to finish at or near Cap Gris Nez (between Boulogne and Calais). The distance will hopefully be 21 miles (32 kilometers), depending on currents and conditions, the water temperature will likely be between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius with a wind speed of between Force 1/2 and 4/5.
We will swim as a relay, according to the rules of the Channel Swimming Association - no wetsuits, just speedos and a swimming hat. EDIT: we have been inundated with requests, and yes, there will be plenty of photographs :)
The actual date of the swim will depend on weather conditions and tides but you can track our progress here via the Channel Swimming Association website:
https://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/tracking
We will swim in support of the Whitechapel Mission, a homeless shelter in the east-end of the city, only a few minutes from our office in Canary Wharf. Since 1876 the charity has been helping some of the most disaffected people in the area, caught in the cycles of poverty, hopelessness and dependencies of many kinds. The Mission supports up to 350 people per day, with no statutory funding and a small army of dedicated volunteers.
The Whitechapel Mission:
Whitechapel Mission is dedicated to providing a lifeline to the poor and homeless of London, who struggle each day against hunger, poverty and exclusion. Our goal is to help people to help themselves, giving them the confidence they need to become independent, which we do through practical support and advice and by teaching them the life skills they need to succeed. We believe everyone deserves chance, regardless of their background, race or religion.