WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!! How I will never know. Having to dig deep early on to avoid being swept and dragged down towards the perilous waters surrounding The Needles, crossing into the English Channel and trying to keep North towards the mainland, and then the most gruelling of finishes (terrible sea fog delayed our departure,) as the tide had turned, which we had to swim into and battle to get to the finish, safe and sound, no stings from the array of Jellyfish we passed by, at c.5pm we emerged to a cheering crowd of supporters.........

AND THE BIGGEST BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE!!!!!!

On Sunday 7th September 2014, we TRIUMPHANTLY embarked on an epic cross Solent and English Channel swim, on a route which had NEVER BEFORE been attempted from Colwell Bay  (nr. The Needles, IOW) to Hengistbury Head (nr. Bournemouth). My biggest wish of gratitude i send to the Sea, who commands boundless respect. She protected us, carried us safely and permitted us to cross. Quiet and serene, mostly flat, calm, the kindest sea i have ever known and more than could have hoped for.

Myself, Dan and Neil, thank enormously our partners in crime on our individual Kayaks (our eyes and compass and heroes at opening our gels and bananas), Emma, Kevin, Steve and Griff, and our Safety Officer Dave Lewins who kept us in the right direction. And the biggest thank you from us all to our RIB pilot Scott Smith, and Alan Smith who captained our large and exquisite Safety Vessel, and Peter, from Aqua Therapy Marine Charters, thank you so much for incredible company, and generosity, most importantly for working hard to keep us safe and sound, especially near the end in busier waters, and to our helpers on board angel Nettie, and Emma, the cheers in the last few km spurred us all along!!!!!!!

I am beyond words at how proud i am of everyone.Thank you xxxxxx

We all toasted to Absent Friends' the 'Javert' shaped hole at the finish, dearest Earl Carpenter,  my cherished friend and Kayak partner for the Solent and practice2014, thank you for being with us for every stroke and paddle of the way from Broadway, in the Big Apple!!!! 

Our purpose for this daunting challenge is to further assist the incredible work of The Royal Society of Musicians. In my late teens I became very poorly with a serious illness which left me with a severe auto immune deficiency. 12 years ago the RSM gave me a cheque for £2000, which, unable to find a cure in the UK, enabled me to see a pioneering doctor of immunology research in Copenhagen, Denmark. Even though the RSM have never asked for a return of the money, I wanted then, as I do now, to continue to raise more money so they can help others as they helped me, for without them I wouldn't be here today. 

This was a colossal undertaking both physically and mentally for us, at a distance of approximately 9 miles, where actual swim distance was closer to 11(c.17-19km GPS our distance is still being calculated), with just over 6 hours in the water and fewer than planned feed stops, this has been an extraordinarily significant achievement and a massive gesture that hopefully reflects the amazing work of the RSM.
Sponsorship is paramount and we all appeal to your generosity.

Thank you in abundance and for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. You can also donate by text, simply by writing the code 'SWIM16' followed by the amount '£**' and sending it to 70070.

Thank you so much xxxxx

WE DID IT!!!!!!! xx

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