<p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hi Everyone,</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">First off - thank you! Thank you&nbsp;for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Following the huge success of last years challenging 10 mile Lake Windermere Swim, a team of Royal Navy Clearance Divers, joined by friends from the Minewarfare community, are gathering again on the 30th July.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">This time we have set our sights higher still and will attempt to swim&nbsp;13 miles around Portsea (</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Portsmouth</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Island</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">. A feat we believe that has only been completed twice before, the last of which being by&nbsp;Portsmouth local, Mr Brian Rann, in 1977. Needless to say Brian&rsquo;s been&nbsp;invaluable in assisting us&nbsp;in our preparations and&nbsp;planning.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">And yes - we know - we are probably mad!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team of eight consists of Lt Cdr's, Mick Beale, John Beavis, and Richard "Soapy" Watson, Lt Dave "Stretch" Armstrong, WO1(Diver) Steve "Scouse" Vernon, CPO(D) John "Yo-Yo" Ravenhall, CPO (Minewarfare) "Pinta" Beer and former Navy Diver, CD1 Dave "Jimmy" Bond.&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">The swim is in aid of three very worthy causes; Cystic Fibrosis Kids of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Portsmouth</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> (<a href="http://www.cfkids.org.uk/"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.cfkids.org.uk/</span></a>), Project Vernon (<a href="http://www.vernon-monument.org/"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.vernon-monument.org/</span></a>) and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (<a href="http://www.rnrmc.org.uk/"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.rnrmc.org.uk</span></a>).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having chosen the CFK as one of our charities for this year, we heard of one of the many inspirational children there, </span><a href="http://www.cfkids.org.uk/people/vanessa-hamza.php"><span style="color: #800080; font-size: small;">Ella</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> Hamza. On hearing of </span><a href="http://www.cfkids.org.uk/people/vanessa-hamza.php"><span style="color: #800080; font-size: small;">Ella's</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> love of swimming, she was recently invited to </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Horsea</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Island</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">, the home of Navy Diving, to brave the cold water of the infamous 1km training lake. Unperturbed by the prospect of conga eels and jellyfish, she amazed us all with her tenacity and spirit. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are <strong>honoured</strong> to say that she will join us for the challenging last 5km leg of the swim.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Having started out from </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Eastney</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Beach</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> around </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">10am</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">, heading anti-clockwise around </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Portsea</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Island</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">, the team will be joined by <a href="http://www.cfkids.org.uk/people/vanessa-hamza.php"><span style="color: #800080;">Ella</span></a> in the vicinity of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Spinnaker</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Tower</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> at around </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">1pm</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">. We will&nbsp;then continue on toward Eastney aiming to be there from </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">3pm</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> onwards. It would be fantastic to see you there!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">So over to you! We&rsquo;d really appreciate any donation that you could make; we hope that this challenge and charities are worthy of your hard earnt pennies!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Equally there will be an opportunity to donate in person on the day if you so wish; either way every bit counts!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">UK</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once again thanks for visiting; hope to see you on the day and please, please&nbsp;donate now.</span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>