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You can find out more about the story behind the charity we've selected below.  It's a great cause and we're just adding to the amazing efforts of Geraldine, Fidelma and everyone else.

About us

In the beginning was Ashley Bygraves.  And Ashley was fast.  In fact he's like lightning if you put a ball in front of him and wrap his unmentionables in two pairs of budgie smugglers.  

Ashley had the idea to do a rare Double Channel Relay.  That's Dover to France, a quick tumble turn, push off (moving France by a few metres in the process) and then return.  

He mentioned it to Richard Jones who enthusiastically agreed... the fool.  Soon Pete Sherratt and Richard Clarke had also agreed and Martin Taylor stepped in when 'The Beast' decided to join the Royal Navy.  

Each swimmer will do hour shifts and swim 8 to 12 miles over roughly 24 hours depending on the currents.

Swimmers will be stung by jellyfish (either in the water or in the boat if someone starts chucking them), have to contend with floating sewage and try not to be run over by car ferries and supertankers.

What your donation is for - Bella's story

In April 2014 when I was ten years old I started to feel very unwell, with very bad stomach cramps and after a while I went to the Doctors. I saw different Doctors and they all said different things and gave me different medicines which only made me feel much worse.

In August I had an appointment with another Doctor, who was concerned with my worsening condition and had me admitted for a colonoscopy. The reason for this was because I needed to use the toilet three or four times an hour through the day and night. I was not sleeping and could not eat. I was tired all the time and I could not manage to go to school some days. I so missed my school friends.

I had to miss my holiday to Italy because I needed to have a colonoscopy urgently. My brother went with his grandparents without me which really upset me. Mum and Dad stayed at home with me. The results of the colonoscopy were not good but at last I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. The UC was throughout my colon which was very inflamed I have some lovely photos of my colon and was the cause of all my pain, and bleeding. 

I went to Italy a few days later but I could not do much as I still needed to be near the toilet at all times. I just felt so ill with the constant pain and tiredness.I started to take steroids which helped for a few weeks and gave me some relief from the pain which felt good. This did not last long and I was again admitted for more treatments, these too did not work and I was losing weight and again the pain and the tiredness would not go away.

The only treatment was major surgery to take my colon out. I was booked in for 21st October at 9am. I dont remember much of this day but I was told that everything went well and most importantly when I woke up all my stomach cramps were all gone!

My recovery after a big operation was long. I now have a stoma and have to wear a special bag called a colostomy bag that collects my poo. This doesnt matter as I feel so much better and I now only take one medicine a day. I missed about four months from school. It was hard to go back and start to build up my confidence. My lovely school friends have helped me in so many ways. I am very lucky to have such good friends. It has taken me a whole year to recover but I am now able to have fun again. I still see the doctors every few months, as they like to know how I am getting on with my stoma and also to check my liver.

We really need research into all the stomach diseases that affect many children like me. Many more children are diagnosed today with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns and other bowel diseases. The Doctors don't know why but research is the only way to help make children better. 

My family and lots of my friends are committed to raising £60,000 for over three years to help fund some paediatric gastro research. Thank you for reading my story and helping our cause.