Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

WE DID IT!!!

On 1st July we swam the English Channel as a relay team of six swimmers in 14 hours and 7 minutes. Well done team!

Thankyou for all your support and the crew of Sea Satin who navigated us across.

Starting at 2am on Thursday 1st July,  Rob was plunged into the dark black sea to start on the beach on Dover.The conditions were challenging but Rob did us proud and we were under way. I (Catherine) swam the second hour  and then Steve. During Steve's swim the sun rose, although conditions were still pretty bleak as there was a thick fog. Richard followed Steve, then Alison and our final swimmer was Pete. We knew we all had to get back in the water for another hour and this was especially hard for those of us who had been pretty ill and all of us who had to recover from the extreme cold. (I had never felt as cold as I did after my first swim!)

Neverthelss everyone did a superbe second swim and the sun emerged to warm us up as we approached the French coast. Rob and I completed a 3rd hour in the water and Steve swam the final 7 minutes to touch down on French soil. We all jumped in behind him to swim and run onto the beach joining him for the team embrace. Conditions on the French side were so very different from the start.

A very exhilirating experience despite the fact it was probably  the most challenging thing I have ever done.The memories will be with us all for ever, but whilst we may forget some of the bad bits we have all decided "Never again"............until next time!

Thankyou team for being so fantastic and Well Done Alison- who was always in doubt she would join us. You did it too!!

 

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: The RNLI gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

We are also rasing money for the Mermaid appeal.

For donations to the Mermaid appeal please see www.justgiving.com/catherineralph