Having given up swimming about 15 years ago, I got myself back into the pool again a few years ago simply to train for a 1500m outdoor swim. But before I knew it I had the swimming bug again! Now here I am, addicted to swimming much more than I was before, particularly open water, & getting ready for a 2-way Channel relay swim! 

Swimming the Channel is without doubt an exceptionally tough challenge (more people have successfully climbed Everest than swam the Channel) but we're doing it all for a great cause: Macmillan Cancer Support.

We’ll be swimming the English Channel as a team relay (at some point between 27th – 31st July 2016) even though:

- it is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world
- has a variety of jellyfish which sting 
- contains some of the most difficult tides in the world
- takes most swimmers 10 - 20 hours to complete a single solo crossing
- is 21 miles across at its shortest point
- has an average water temperature of 14 - 16C

… and if that’s not tough enough, we are going to do it TWICE! England to France and back again!! (with no rest in between!)

The Team:

Paul Bates (the Captain), Claire Thorn, Rob Small, Ross Emery, Stuart Fuller, and of course....me.  We're swimming as 'Big Rick's Swim Team 2016'.

__________________________________________________________________

We’re undertaking this challenge under the guidance and rules of the Channel Swimming & Pilots Federation, an internationally recognised organisation that authenticates cross-channel swims. In checking the CS&PF database we’ll be only one of a few teams of mixed swimmers to have ever completed a double (i.e. 2-way) crossing of the English Channel. 

According to the rules, we’ll be swimming in standard swim trunks or jammers (swimming costume for Claire), a silicone hat and goggles - and that is all! (so none of this 'wetsuit' nonsense!)

The English Channel has a vast history luring swimmers from around the world to take on the challenge. Many of the swimmers, although mentally dedicated and physically prepared, have not been successful in crossing the perilous waters. 

Extreme cramping, sickness, and hypothermia are just some of the
adversities that make any swim of the channel an extraordinary and seemingly impossible goal.

We want to prove that through dedication, tenacity, enthusiasm and teamwork we can be successful in this challenge, have fun and enjoy life in the process.  We've competed in a number of training swims and some vigorous open water endurance events over the past 2 years (such as the Coniston end-to-end 5.25 mile chill swim) as we care passionately about this Channel swim and want to give it our best shot.

Please support our cause by donating to Macmillan Cancer Support and be a part of our journey by reading our regular updates.

Our website and blog is at:
https://www.facebook.com/BigRicks2016/

Find out more about Channel relay swims by reading my blog: https://swimshare.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/english-channel-relay-swims-how-do-they-work/ 

Thank you so much for your support!

From me and the whole team: Charlie, Claire, Paul, Rob, Ross and Stu