The swim is now less than 2 weeks away and the full madness of the challenge is beginning to hit home: a 4am start in the dark; an estimated 15 hours of swimming between us; and a real threat of sharks/ jelly fish/ shipping tankers injuring us at any moment (I thought the fear of sharks was irrational until my colleagues showed me a video of a shark attacking a fishing net in the channel last year!!).

It is hardly surprising that anyone we tell asks 'why are you doing this?', and as the date approaches we sometimes ask ourselves the same question! There are two reasons:

Firstly, like most people who undertake these things, we are setting ourselves a bit of  personal challenge- indeed there is no guarantee we will succeed ... Only 20% do apparently. It is race against tides, the luck of weather and an ability to stay warm (there are no wetsuits) + maintain energy levels. Fingers crossed!

Secondly, it is a brilliant opportunity to fund raise for a great cause and give back to an institution that has had an enormous impact on my life by keeping my (Ben's) mum around. My mum was diagnosed with leukaemia when I was just six and my brother three, she herself was only in her early thirties. With immense amounts of personal determination, a brilliant donor and incredible support at the Hammersmith Hospital (part of Imperial College Healthcare) she is still around today.

Any money raised will go to the Haematology department of the Hammersmith hospital to help them continue delivering first rate care and cutting-edge research that is keeping my mum and many others alive. 

Thanks for your support!