On Sunday June 16, Beckenham Swimming Club adults are swimming the equivalent of the English Channel. Yes, all 32km of it in 8 relays of 160 lengths each across the Beckenham Spa pool! We are raising money to generate much needed funds for Beckenham Swimming Club.

We are a 125 year old, family orientated, competitive club with up to 300 swimmers who learn and train with us every week, aged from 5 upwards. We are very successful at raising swimmers, including Duncan Goodhew, who worked his way to Gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. More recently, Paralympian Susie Rodgers won three bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics before going on to achieve gold in Rio 2016. A record 20 of our current swimmers appeared in last year’s Nationals Competitions, securing five medals.

At a time when spending cuts are curtailing many schools’ ability to provide a sport curriculum, and child obesity is a significant problem, we are firmly focused on getting kids into swimming, and keeping them swimming. Our exceptional coaches help kids learn, compete and develop lasting sporting habits. Our active kids and teenagers are great examples of how sport can teach discipline, build confidence and nurture a sense of belonging.

In an effort to ensure that the swimming club remains affordable to all, we try and keep our fees as low as possible. Which is why we are fundraising to support the significant costs of running the club, which includes many hours of pool time, and the hardworking coaching team led by Tony Beckley, a member of British Swimming’s Select Coaches group.

Beckenham Swimming Club adults will are attempt to swim the equivalent of the English Channel - 32km of it in 8 relays of 160 lengths at the Beckenham Spa pool. For once, the children will be cheering us on as we compete against each other but also as a club to complete the distance. The kids will also be taking charge of the adults’ usual roles of marshalling, time-keeping and serving refreshments.

Whilst this promises to be a slightly mad, possibly chaotic, 3 hours, the serious side to what we are doing is to raise much needed funds for the club and its kids. Please will you help by becoming a sponsor?