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On 11 July 2026 I will attempt one of the world’s most demanding marathon swims, the Manhattan Island 20 Bridges Swim in New York. The challenge involves swimming approximately 28.5 miles around the entire island of Manhattan, passing beneath twenty bridges and navigating powerful tidal currents through the Hudson River, Harlem River and East River.

The swim must be completed in a single continuous effort and I will be attempting it under traditional marathon swimming rules. This means non wetsuit, wearing only standard swimming trunks, hat and goggles. No thermal protection. The distance, cold water and currents make it an extremely demanding endurance challenge.

My goal is to complete the full circumnavigation in 8 to 9 hours, which requires months of training and preparation.

I have previously completed several major open water swims including the English Channel, the Irish Channel between Ireland and Scotland, and the Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa. Each swim involves long hours in the water and a huge amount of preparation.

This challenge is deeply personal to me because I am dedicating the swim to my 11 year old daughter Jasmine and raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Jasmine has undergone open heart surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital and remains under their care to this day. As a family we have experienced first hand the extraordinary skill, care and compassion of the doctors, nurses and specialists who work there. The treatment Jasmine has received has made an immeasurable difference to our family.

Great Ormond Street Hospital treats some of the most seriously ill children from across the UK and relies heavily on charitable donations to fund pioneering research, specialist equipment and vital support for families.

If this swim can help raise even a small amount to support that work, every mile will be worthwhile.

Training for a challenge of this scale involves many early mornings and long cold swims, but knowing it is helping a hospital that has done so much for Jasmine provides powerful motivation.

If you are able to donate, no matter the amount, I would be hugely grateful for your support.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting the challenge.

Ed Williams