This journey started back in 2016 in the cold winter months in London. A colleague called Merlin would arrive in the office draped in several coats and hats after his routine 'morning dip' in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. I'd listened to his 'cold water virtues pitch' too many times to remember so eventually I agreed to accompany him into the freezing lake to end this debate. I arrived at the Serpentine shore with another friend, Simon, and needless to say, I became hooked.... not just because of the experience but also the warm breakfast and tea spilling shivering laughter that followed.

I should have seen it coming but before I knew it Simon had signed us up to an English Channel Relay which we completed in July 202. In doing so, the four of us (myself, Simon, Paul and Henry) collectively raised over £20,000 for charities. In the following months I felt I still had unfinished business with the English Channel and in 2023 I decided to sign up to do a solo swim once my coach (Tim Denyer) gave me the green light. I have been training since June 2023 with my first test completing the Dart 10km in Devon in Sept last year. In 2024 my training has involved swimming six days a week for 3km every day. In recent months this has increased to 5-6km per day as well as a six hour cold water qualifier in 15 degree water (my profile photo).

This is by far the most challenging physical and mental challenge of my life. The swim is more than the 21 mile straight line distance from Dover to Calais. I am only permitted to wear swimming trunks (the small unflattering type), goggles and a swim hat....and a bucket of Vaseline to manage the chaffing.

The sea conditions (finger crossed) are looking good and I hope to complete the swim in under 15 hours.

I am swimming for Dementia Research UK. Dementia is a disease that we still do not know nearly enough about. It is also a disease which has impacted so many friends and relatives including my own grandmother and my wife's grandmother.

Dementia Research UK provides grants that support large-scale dementia research programmes within universities and hospitals, looking into new ways of diagnosing and treating dementia.

Thank you