The Story: Why I’m Taking the Plunge

Hi everyone,

I’m thrilled (and a little nervous!) to share my next big challenge with you: an English Channel Relay Crossing in July 2025! Together with five amazing friends—Team SeaGals—we’ll each swim for an hour at a time through one of the busiest, coldest, and most unpredictable stretches of water in the world. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure will push me beyond my comfort zone in ways I can’t yet imagine.

The Challenge

The English Channel crossing is the ultimate test for any swimmer. There’s no wetsuit allowed—just a swimsuit, goggles, a swim hat, and a good slathering of anti-chafe cream. The journey can take anywhere between 11 and 18 hours, and along the way, we’ll navigate powerful currents, avoid huge ships, and hope not to encounter too many stinging jellyfish.

Preparation has already begun, including open-water swims for cold-water acclimatisation and pool sessions to build endurance and refine our strokes. But honestly, nothing fully prepares you for the real thing. Did I mention my irrational fear of sharks? Let’s just say this challenge is as much about overcoming mental hurdles as it is about physical ones!

Why I’m Doing This

Swimming has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents took my sister and I to countless lessons, swimming club training sessions, and galas across the country. It wasn’t just a sport; it was a passion and a life skill that shaped who I am.

I was a competitive swimmer, specialising in front crawl and sprinting, then a fiercely competitive water polo player, and later a windsurfer. These days, life has taken over, and between family and work, my time in the water had taken a backseat. I needed a big, bold goal to reignite that fire—and what better than swimming the English Channel?

This challenge resonates deeply with me because I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to feel safe and confident in the water. Swimming isn’t just a sport; it’s a vital life skill, and that’s why I’m passionate about raising funds for SwimTayka.

About the Charity: SwimTayka

Every year, 360,000 people die from drowning—many of them children. Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide, and the heartbreaking truth is that so many of these tragedies are preventable.

SwimTayka works to combat this silent epidemic by teaching children in underserved communities how to swim and how to be safe in and around water. Their mission is to provide swimming lessons to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access, creating a lasting legacy as these children grow up to pass their skills to the next generation.

Your donation will help SwimTayka provide access to qualified swimming instructors and lifesaving water safety education, ensuring more children get the chance to thrive—and survive—in the water.

How Your Donation Will Help

Here’s how your support will make a difference:

The cost of the relay swim is £800. This includes the boat, a qualified pilot, and essential training events to help us succeed in this challenge. I will be covering this cost myself. Therefore all money donated will go directly to SwimTayka to support their incredible work.

Even if bad weather or injury prevents me from completing the swim, your donation will still make a difference, going directly to SwimTayka’s life-changing projects.

Join Me on This Journey

I’ve always loved a challenge, but this one is truly special. By supporting this cause, you’re not just helping me achieve a dream—you’re giving the gift of life-saving skills to children who need it most.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and generosity. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Let’s make waves together!

Donate Now

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