27th July 2008 We did it! 15 hours and 41 min after leaving Shakespeare Cliffs at 3.55 am on Sunday morning, Colin took the first step on a French beach just north of Cap Gris Nez. Many thanks for all your kind donations and support. Thanks also to Ray and Les, our skilful pilots aboard the Sea Venture II, without whom it wouldn't have been possible. Steve, Dave, Col and Mat. Thank you for visiting our fundraising page. Steve, Collin, Dave and Matthew will be attempting a swim across theEnglish channel as a relay. This is scheduled for the last week in July- not that its going to take us a week but it’ll give us some leeway to work with! We have to book a week to maximise the chances of a good day. Once the OK has been given we will set off with our pilot and an official observer from the Channel Swimming Association taking it in strict rotation, one hour swimming, three hours sitting in the boat getting warm and seasick then back in the water for an hour. And so on until we detect the smell of freshly baked croissants and stumble ashore. Please dig deep and sponsor us online.
If you wish to donate to our other charities goto: www.justgiving.com/alderheychannelswimimagine for Alder Hey Imagine Appeal or www.justgiving.com/alderheychannelswimsavethechildren for Save the Children
Many thanks for your support.
Mat, Colin, Dave and Steve ***********UPDATE**********Mat and Steve completed first warm up event: 4 mile Ivan Percival Trophy swim in Albert Dock. Completed in 1hr 48min and 2hr 9min, avoiding Jessica's wayward canoeing in a strong wind! Torbay (4 and 8 miles) next for all of us on 5th July. 12th June: Mat, in a desperate attempt at shedding excessive weight and for a little sympathy, parted with his appendix last week. News is he is back on his feet and hoping to join us for the big swim. Get well soon Mat and we look forward to seeing you back in the water. 5th July: Dave, Col and Steve manage 16 miles between us in the stormy waters off Torbay. All this despite being hampered by a world shortage in fig rolls and Graham the canoeist capsizing, but being saved by Dave's pull buoy. A civic reception afterwards with the Mayor and wet night in a field somewhere topped the weekend off. Many thanks to Graham and Francesca for canoeing and their help on a difficult day. 12th and 13th July, Lake Bala, Wales. Another good weekend with 17 miles between us in the oh so cold Bala (13 degrees allegedly). Colin was 30min faster than last year so will be sharing his drugs with Dave and Steve for Conniston this weekend. Reports are that Mat has taken to the water again in the pool. Could he do a Paula Radcliffe and be fit in time? 16th July: Great news. Mat back in the water gracing Albert Dock with an elegant six laps as if he had never been away. Final plans made in the pub afterwards whilst Colin suns himself in Spain with family. 20th July: Dave and Steve make it from one end of Conniston to the other. 5.25 miles of mixed weather, high winds and 57 degree water. Both in reasonable shape after to restock on steak pudding and gravy. Many thanks to support crew of Graham (canoed all Dave's swim's this year), Jessica (canoeist and flapjack supremo), Penny, Sue, Ella, Daisy, Skye and superheroes Kung-Fu Panda, Tiger and Monkey (alias George, Arran and Sam). Next stop Dover. 24th July: Coverage in the Echo of four odd blokes jumping in the docks: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/07/24/docs-take-the-plunge-for-channel-swim-100252-21395864/
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