Thank you for visiting our fundraising page for the Newman Trust Lakes Challenge. We completed the event on 11th to 13th July 2008.

The team did fantastically well and completed the whole event as planned.

Dave, Hannah, Zoe and Nicola all volunteer as carers on Newman Trust holidays and have seen for themselves time and time again how the holidays have changed the lives of the children. The holidays give the children independence, confidence, inspiration and most importantly fun and friendship!

The Newman Trust was established in 1981 and began by running a one week summer holiday for children with special needs. The Trust now provides holidays for over 120 children with disabilities in various locations around the UK. Due to the high level of skilled care the children require, or financial circumstances, the children selected for these breaks would not otherwise have a holiday.

The holidays provide a wide range of fun activities in a safe and supported environment. The care ratio on the holidays is one helper to one child at all times. The Newman Trust is an entirely voluntary organisation and owes its success to over 200 people who dedicate their free time to helping these children. This voluntary structure ensures every penny raised goes directly towards a child's holiday.

£5 pays for a child's gift, £20 pays for a day at a theme park, whilst £50 could pay for a group of children to go horse-riding. £100 could pay for a group of 20 children to go sailing, £300 provides one child a week long holiday and £10,000 funds a whole holiday.

On day one we swam the length of Buttermere, followed by a fell walk to Scale Force waterfall before descending to swim across and along Crummock Water. On the second day we walked to Easedale Tarn and swam around it, before returning to Grasmere. We didn't swim Rydal Water as planned due to time constraints, but swam across Grasmere and back to make sure the distance was achieved.

The total swimming distance over the 2 days was approximately 10 kilometres, or 400 lengths of the average swimming pool. As expected, our main challenge was the water temperature, but instead of the expected 16-17 degrees Celsius, we swam in temperatures down to 11 degrees Celsius. For comparison, the average pool comes in at about 28 degrees Celsius and it feels "chilly" at 26 degrees Celsius.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us. The Newman Trust 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. If you have any problems donating, please e-mail the support people on help@justgiving.net

Many thanks for your support, we really appreciate it.