Martin Pilcher's Fundraising Page
Page creator: Martin Pilcher
Event: ChildLine Channel Swim
Event Date: 23rd Sep 2008
Fundraising Page Image
"Just swim to the wall and back" :-0
About my charity : ChildLine ChildLine
ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call at any time of the night or day. That's because ChildLine's helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. But without help, that might change because of the lack of funds. ChildLine is in urgent need of funds so that we can continue to stay open overnight, which is when some of the most desperate children need us most.
Charity Registration No 216401
Fundraising target:  £5,000.00
Donations so far:  £ 4,250.00
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My personal message:

Hi....thanks for visiting my fund raising page!

During w/c 22nd September 2008 (will probably be Tue 23rd weather and tides permitting) I will set off with 5 other swimmers from Dover and attempt a relay crossing of the English channel to France. Even as I type this now, I still can't fully believe I got talked into doing this (thanks Carole!), a thought that is reinforced everytime I walk into the cold waters of Dover harbour for another training session!

So, what's involved....basically our team of 6 will leave the UK at around 0230 in the morning and start the swim to France in complete darkness (optimal tides apparently!). For the relay swim to be recognised as 'official', we have to pre-name our swimming order and stick to it, wear nothing more than speedos, goggles, a swimming hat and some vasoline, as sea water is very abrasive. Each team member then takes their turn to swim a full hour before 'handing over' to the next victim! The swimming ability of the team is very mixed to say the least, so we are reckoning on the crossing taking up to 20 hours, with each member of the team swimming 3 times.

If that doesn't sound silly enough, add to that a water temperature of around 16 degrees C, jellyfish, 600 tankers/200 ferries usng the channel daily, waves/swell of up to 2 metres in height (relay teams get given rougher conditions than solo swimmers), coping with 5 hours of sea sickness in-between swims (my biggest fear) and you will probably think I have lost my mind.....I do too!

So, why am I doing this? Close friends and family will know that I have tried to find an exit door to all this on several occasions as I'm a strong believer in knowing your own limits. However, several other potential swimmers have already had to pull out of the challenge after failing the strict medical that we all had to go through, meaning ChildLine are now down to minimum numbers for this event to go ahead....basically there are no reserve swimmers to take my place!

Knowing this is all for a really worthy cause is about my only motivation when walking into Dover harbour every other weekend at the moment, so any support you can give through sponsoring me will be greatly appreciated (see details below). Quite simply, the more money I raise, the more calls ChildLine can answer and the more children in distress can get much needed help & counselling.....so please sponsor me if you can!

Thanks

Martin 'speedoman' Pilcher

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ChildLine will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
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Display Name Date Amount Tax Bonus  Comment
The Murdochs (and gremlin) 01/09/2008 £10.00 n/a How's the front crawl?!! Good luck from Kerry, James and family 
Woody's Gill ! 28/08/2008 £10.00 n/a  
Susan Critchley 26/08/2008 £50.00 n/a In the words of the late, great Roy Castle..."O-O dedication's what you need". Great effort Martin-very worthy cause 
Clare Hey (friend of Keith & Margaret 25/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 I'm going to try and find a team to join, to swim the channel myself. 
Michael Phelps 25/08/2008 £15.00 £4.23 You are truely awesome. See you in London for 2012 
Firmin Coates Ltd 22/08/2008 £200.00 n/a Wishing you all the very best and well done for taking up the challenge 
Katherine Hepburn 21/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Eyes down - Just think of the end result- fantastic achievement - great cause- Good Luck! 
The 'Lovey's' 18/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 My advice keep your mouth closed! ha ha WHO AM I KIDDING LIKE THATS GONNA HAPPEN!!! : - ) 
SCA Packaging 15/08/2008 £100.00 n/a Very best of luck for a worthy cause. Shares in Vasaline have just gone up! 
David Cooper 14/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good luck from no 10 
Claire Pritchard 13/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Good luck Martin - all the best! 
Nan Glad 08/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Good luck, Martin, come back safely 
Margaret Trueman 07/08/2008 £10.00 n/a Well done, Martin. Will be thinking of you and your mother! 
Graeme Gunn 07/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Best of luck. Hope to hear in future that you enjoyed the experience! 
Liz Shaw 05/08/2008 £20.00 n/a 10 laps of the swimming pool are enough for me! Well done for taking this on. 
Gary Dolton 30/07/2008 £20.00 n/a Best of luck Martin 
Nicola Thomson 29/07/2008 £30.00 £8.46 Wow! Will rethink my practice of 'bucket & chuck-it' on my boat from now just for you! 
Kevin Ledgerwood 28/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Remember if you get 80% of the way across and can't make it, that's OK - just turn round and come back! May the weather be kind to you. Go for it!  
Mariella 28/07/2008 £15.00 n/a Martin, I'll take my hat off to you! Good luck and hopefully lots of fun, too! 
Dawn Voyce 28/07/2008 £25.00 n/a Good luck Martin...Have fun and remember why you decided to do this in the first place.  
Jonathan Webster 25/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Best of luck...Hope all goes swimmingly!  
The McDermotts (Ged and Carol) 24/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Goodness the last time I seen you in speedo's we were being thrown around the Med on the back of some ridiculous lilo and at least the water was warm  
Loz Merv Sarah Christina and Ben 23/07/2008 £100.00 £28.21 Very brave Mart little bro!! Bit different from a marathon! Be thinking of you - tho not with envy!! X 
Jenny Stephens 23/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 very brave 
Mike Beale 23/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Best of luck mate! Its got to be better for you than marathons! 
Jonathan Shoham 23/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good luck! 
Simon Lees 23/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Best of luck Martin. Rather you than me. I would be please to do a couple of lengths in a warm pool!! 
Store Ship Rotterdam 22/07/2008 £300.00 n/a Martin, Go for it!  
Jan, Des & The Boys 22/07/2008 £10.00 n/a  
Hanson Logistics 22/07/2008 £200.00 n/a Good luck  
Simon Nardecchia 21/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Best of luck Martin 
Bulkhaul Limited 21/07/2008 £250.00 n/a Good Luck - and we will double the money if you make it! 
Carolyn Purnell 21/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Fantastic challenge but such a worthwhile cause. Go for it ! 
Chris Kelly 21/07/2008 £20.00 n/a I'm sure you can do it! 
Lea Grocott 21/07/2008 £10.00 n/a  
Mark Peacock 20/07/2008 £50.00 n/a Well best of luck and bon courage - good for you for taking this on! 
Jamie, Sally & boys. 20/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 Good Luck brov! 
Hans van Driel 18/07/2008 £50.00 n/a if the water gets below 10 oC you are heading to far North. Wishing you luck and strength  
Paul Castle 17/07/2008 £20.00 n/a Wouldn't want to row it - good on you to be SWIMMING it! 
Fatahia 17/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Oulala !!!!  
Catherine Stockings 17/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Wishing you the very best of luck for a very worthy cause! 
Susanna 17/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 good luck. I want to see a picture of you in the official kit! 
Jacqueline 17/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Good luck! I cross my fingers, even though we haven't met yet! 
Paul Wheeler 16/07/2008 £50.00 n/a I had a chance to do this once but it fell through; I've always regretted it. Just think how many times you'll be able to tell the story! 
Patricia 16/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 May you avoid the big boats! 
Panalpina 16/07/2008 £250.00 n/a Good luck and nice weather! 
Claire Rook 16/07/2008 £15.00 n/a Something I wanted to do myself when I was about 15 !! Good Luck to get you to £2000 
Margie Pedder 16/07/2008 £20.00 n/a I don't know you but through my old friend Naomi and I have ultimate respect for what you are going to accomplish! 
Sara Lamm 15/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Hope it will be a warm day! 
ben 15/07/2008 £100.00 n/a watch the angry fish for all the bones you used in your projects! 
Tracey Day 14/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Slap on that "Goose Grease" and go for it!! Best of Luck xx 
Hans 14/07/2008 £20.00 n/a You are a brave man! 
Bernie 14/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good luck Martin - it's a great charity - well done! 
Joachim 14/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Good Luck  
Yasmin Fazal (Spedition Services) 14/07/2008 £300.00 n/a Keep your mouth closed! Good Luck 
John Millar 14/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good luck Martin! 
Jane Sykes - Hudds 14/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 OMG. That's it, NO MORE STELLA !! 
Richard 14/07/2008 £20.00 n/a Nice Hat - Yellow is obviously your colour 
Nick 14/07/2008 £20.00 n/a looks like your 'natural insulation' plans are working well! Try to enjoy it, good luck 
Customer Service Basel 14/07/2008 £45.00 n/a Good luck swimming through a freezing sea for charity? 
Moray 14/07/2008 £20.00 n/a An impressive - or foolish challenge but well done mate either way, watch out for container ships, they are big b****rs and dont stop! 
Daniel 14/07/2008 £50.00 n/a This worthy effort needs to be supported, and accompanied by my best wishes, for a save journey 
Giancarlo Conte 14/07/2008 £20.00 n/a Man, have fun and good luck! 
Darren, Helen and Lucie 13/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 The French authorities will not allow those speedos to touch French soil. Good luck, we know you can do it. 
Pierre-Etienne Boin 13/07/2008 £50.00 n/a Good luck and.. don't forget to have some fun! 
Mark Ellis 12/07/2008 £50.00 n/a Well done Martin. You can have counselling after the event. 
Debbie Hawkes 12/07/2008 £5.00 £1.41 Loads of luck Martin - think you're completely MAD!! 
René Schmid 12/07/2008 £50.00 n/a Have fun and success with this very new Change Initiative - Thanks for the support given to the Belgian Team at Seneffe (2004) 
Vicki & Padraic Gannon 12/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good luck - look forward to hearing all about it x 
Jane Jamieson 12/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 …so this is why you removed shrinkage from the dashboard!! Good luck Martin :-) 
Hans Kraft 11/07/2008 £30.00 n/a May the force be with you! 
TY-GARD EUROPE LTD. 11/07/2008 £100.00 n/a Good Luck from Ty-Gard Europe Ltd 
Colin Bolton 11/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 where are you going to put your passport ?  
Ju - WMO 11/07/2008 £20.00 n/a don't forget to pack some sarnies ;) 
Michel Bourguet 11/07/2008 £20.00 n/a The most beautiful bridge between England and France. Bonne chance!  
Martin Taylor 11/07/2008 £50.00 £14.10 in speechless admiration 
Alastair Rankin 11/07/2008 £10.00 n/a This'll be no problem , your streamlined like Duncan Goodhew anyway. Good luck Sir. 
Jimmy Simpson 11/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 All the best  
Mum 11/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 I've got some seasick pills, any use? Good luck, Martin, will be thinking of you. 
Linda - HMC 11/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 WOW - How can you add this to your SIPM, because this would certainly be Upper Quartile in my book 
Uschi 11/07/2008 £10.00 n/a It's this kind of craziness I love about the Brits! Keep going... 
Ed Pembroke 11/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 swimming through a freezing sea of turds for charity? Nice 1! 
Catherine Lambert 11/07/2008 £20.00 n/a I wish to have this courage for the time being I rely on you drinking my beer 
Claudia Ammermann 11/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Au weia - good luck!! 
Howard Wyer-Roberts 11/07/2008 £50.00 £14.10 ... and for next year's follow up? best of luck! 
Anthea 11/07/2008 £5.00 £1.41 What an experience - lots of luck! 
Keiran Murphy 11/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good Luck, did they not tell you ,you have to swim back to!! 
Kurt Bermeitinger 11/07/2008 £50.00 n/a Wish you good luck - don't forget to swim back to the UK 
Linda 10/07/2008 £25.00 n/a Rather you than me! Good Luck 
Andy Longhurst 10/07/2008 £10.00 n/a I need to see pictuires of the before and after, and the Speedo's suit you sir.!!! 
Gary Talmage 10/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 I`ll pay up regardless - as long as you promise not to show any more photos.!! 
T.Culley 10/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Just having to wear the Speedos should justify a donation in itself! Good luck and for a great charity. 
Mark Waltham 10/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Just swim to France (and back!) 
Uwe 10/07/2008 £10.00 n/a This really is a challenge! Go for it! 
Sasank Mohanty 10/07/2008 £10.00 n/a Just do it! 
Helen Mitchell 10/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 You will think twice before agreeing to anything next time! No wonder you were on the Cola the other night. Go for it and good on you for doing this. 
Susan Neale 10/07/2008 £10.00 n/a anyone that crazy deserves support 
Steve Holt 10/07/2008 £25.00 n/a Go for it 
Gordon 10/07/2008 £20.00 n/a Fantastic! A braver man than I! :-) 
Richard Koch 10/07/2008 £100.00 n/a You are a legend! Go for it. 
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*Total donated online: £4,150.00
Amount raised offline: £100.00
Gift Aid plus supplement: £277.82
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