<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The channel swim July 2012</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Alison Hornby the swimmer...</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Alison her brothers and her sisters were exposed to the benefits of immersion in water from an early age, both parents were eager that they all enjoy both sport and leisure activities in and around water. It is reasonable to say a family of water babies. As a family when they were out on walks or on holiday a body of water would very rarely be passed without at least one of the family immersing themselves in his (sometimes to the embarrassment of passers-by).</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Although encouraged to take part in club events competition wasn't necessarily the goal. It's fair to say that the benefits of water sports including the safety aspect rescue life-saving and associated skills were the objective.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">For some considerable time Alison has had the idea that one day she would swim the English Channel. Not really a dream rather something that would be done one day.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Considered the world over as the equivalent to climbing Mount Everest, swimming the channel is quite a feat in anybody's book.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">It's reasonable to say that both Alison and her team do not see this venture as an attempt to swim the channel, but rather the channel will be swum whatever it takes no matter how many hours or tides, sandwiches, cups of coffee, and brute stubbornness. This 26 or so mile swim will be accomplished. Remember, it's not the distance. It's the time it takes to do battle with the tides, the weather conditions and that unknown quantity water.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">In recent years, Alison's family had an unfortunate collision with the Demon we call Cancer. It has had a greater effect on all of us. We are all aware of the massive effect this disease can have on both the patient and the people around them. The feelings of powerlessness and helplessness are overwhelming. Fortunately, there is an organisation known as Macmillan Cancer support. Most people have heard of them but don't really know what they do. Neither did we think the easiest way to explain it is they are just there, with a supportive hand on the shoulder, a hot drink when it's needed, a shoulder to cry on, and wise words.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">So, just to make life a little more interesting and turn an ambition into a real challenge. We will be asking you, you and you for sponsorship to help support and maintain those most valued skills that Macmillan proffer to those who need them most, when they are needed the most. Please keep in mind that fortunately not all of us will have to experience the help and support of this marvellous organisation.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></p>