In June, I will be swimming solo across the English Channel, which is over 21 miles and the water temperature will be about 15/16 degrees celsius.

Leaving from Dover, I will be escorted by a pilot boat to safely negotiate the busiest shipping lane in the world. Adhering to strict rules of the swim include wearing a swimming costume, hat and goggles only. NO wetsuits, gloves and boots can be worn. I am not allowed to touch the boat or anybody during my swim as this will result in immediate disqualification.

More people have climbed Mount Everest than successfully swum the Channel so to reduce the risk of adding to that sobering statistic, I have been training and preparing for this event for over 2 years.

I am using this swim as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) which brings advanced critical care to those patients who need it the most.

Highly skilled crews of Doctors, Paramedics and Pilots can be at the scene of an incident within minutes. It currently costs in excess of £17,750 a day to maintain our life saving service, and it is only thanks to the generosity of the communities that we serve that we are able keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives.

This wonderful and vital charity, of which I am a proud trustee, does not receive any government funding and is reliant entirely on the generosity of regular donors and supporters. The charity has recently purchased a new airbase at Southampton Airport, which will be a more central location and reduce response times for the majority of calls.

The Operation Airbase appeal is fundraising for £3.6 million to rebuild and equip the new airbase to include installing the helipad, hangar doors, crew room, training suite and other facilities required by the teams.

If you are able to kindly donate, your contribution will make a tremendous difference in securing the future of this life saving charity, and with a new airbase, will respond quicker to seriously ill patients.

Thank you.