After swimming the English Channel in August (details below) my Channel training buddy (Kerry) and I are off to Spain to attempt to swim across the Straits of Gibraltar (between Spain & Morocco).  We head over to Tarifa on the evening of 8th August and will hope to get to swim during the week weather depending.  Wish us luck for another successful crossing.

** Well I did it - I swam to France and it took me 17hrs and 19mins to get there as I suffered from an injury after 10 hours and had to deal with what mother nature threw at me - change in weather, wind direction and tides.  But I got there and became one of less than 500 women ever to do so. - Thank you for all your support.

On 17th August at 00.30 I am going to be swimming to France from Dover on my own... yes that's right the full 21 miles with my two little arms and two little legs rotating around battling against the tides, currents, waves, jellyfish & big boats from England until they hit French soil some time later.

As you know, in 2013 I swam as part of a 6 man relay to France (in 14 hours 12 minutes of which I swam 3 hours and 12 minutes) and then in 2014 I swam as part of a 4 man relay in which we swam to France and then back again (in 24 hours 45 minutes of which I swam 6 hours 45 minutes). So this is a big step up as it will mean me swimming continuously for hopefully between 13-16 hours and hopefully becoming one of less than 500 women to have ever completed the swim. I will use this page to keep people updated about my journey as well as updating my blog -lisaswims.wordpress.com

In the past I have raised money through my swimming for charities such as Aspire and COSMIC, however, this time it has a far more personal purpose. I am doing this swim in memory of a wonderful friend who lost her fight to cancer in June 2013. Elaine was an inspirational friend who despite battling with breast cancer for over 7 years was always so humorous, positive, cheerful and completely unselfish in everything she did. She always praised the Royal Marsden and the doctors and nurses that helped her over the years and I therefore want to be able to give something back on her behalf. Not only have they supported her I also personally know 5 other people they have worked with during their battles and it seems a fitting charity.

As well as the Channel in September  I will also be aiming to swim a 21 mile swim across Windermere and back on the 6th July 2015 and then on the 26th July 2015 my friend Paul and I will be swimming a 2 man relay across Lake Zurich (26km).

The cost of the support boat for my Channel swim is around £3,000 of which I am paying myself so all money raised with go to the Royal Marsden. Elaine this one is for you :)