This story is a combination of small pieces. My 7th birthday present was swimming lessons in a highly chlorinated swimming pool involving life-preservers, ropes and much shouting from the coaches. My primary school was rare in that it had a tiny unheated pool. I swam in English summers, it was cold. A couple of years later I swam with my parents in the warm Mediterranean out along a promontory, way out of my depth, and was simultaneously petrified and proud. 

In 2009 I completed my first and only triathlon and learned to swim front crawl. I hate being cold, it was cold. In 2011 I did an open water swim before I knew it was a thing... and since then I have spent more time getting cold while swimming and learning how to warm up than I thought possible. As an academic and an artist interested in smell, the sea and ocean have great associations (chlorine less so)... I am intrigued to uncover the smells of a Channel swim... does France really smell different to Dover after 18 hours in or on the water?

I am petrified and proud to be a part of Swim Tayka 2023 English Channel Relay Team swimming in a group of 6 to cover the 21 miles between England and France in 1-hour stretches starting at 3.00am! To prepare I will train in all conditions throughout this coming winter getting used to swimming at night, swimming with a very salty mouth, swimming with scary large ships all around and doing it all without my favourite neoprene gloves and socks. I will be cold, I will warm up.

It is important because swimming is a life-skill and a life-enhancer. Please help me support Swim Takya. Up to 50% of the funds I raise will go towards the directs costs of participating (registration, boat rental, support) the remainder goes directly to the charity. I will fund my training, accommodation and kit. 

Thank you for reading. Your donation will help me reach my target and is very much appreciated.