Having inherited the mad gene from my mother, i have decided to undertake a cross channel swim this coming June. I am part of a 4 person (3 guys and me!)relay team, and we will each in turn be swimming for an hour and be on the boat for 3, relaying each other across the open water from Dover to Calais. We hope to complete the swim in between 16 and 20 hours, so i am expecting to dive in between 4 and 5 times. The water temperature will be a tropical 13°C, and the rules harshly state that only a one piece swimming costume, a single swimming hat and a pair of goggles may be worn. We are kindly allowed a minimal amount of vaseline on our friction points. As you may be aware, the English Channel is the busiest east to west shipping lane in the world, with tankers up to half a mile long, and a constant stream of north to south ferries. Being only 5ft4 tall, this is a slightly daunting prospect. You may think that the swim itself is the real challenge, but in my case it is not. I will have to face smacks of jellyfish which for years have sent me straight into a hissy fit, often resulting in a major panic attack. I have been training since February in the Serpentine Lake, where the water started at a nippy 4°C, and have been attending regular pool and Dover harbour training sessions since then. Although I love sport, I have never been a swimmer, so this really is proving to be quite a challenge. I have decided that i will complete this swim for Demelza Hospice Care For Children, a children's charity which runs 2 hospices and out-reach care for children in the south of England. It provides not only respite care for the children and their families, but also end of life care. They work with children with both life threatening and life limiting illnesses and rely solely on donations and fundraising. I am aiming to raise around £5000, and would love you to dig deep into your pockets and sponsor me as generously as you feel able to. Having visited the newly opened hospice in Eltham, I cannot think of a more worthy charity to swim across the Channel and fight off the hoards of jellyfish for.