I am planning to swim the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland initially as a relay and then as a solo swim. It is 35km in a straight line (but the currents and tides will get in the way of a straight line) the water temperature is likely to be between 11-16 degrees (but probably closer to the 11). My tide window for the relay swim is 20-28th June and my solo tide window is 21-27th July.  The big challenges with this swim are the water temperatures and the Lions Mane jellyfish who have a very nasty sting and don’t take kindly to humans rampaging through their home! 

I am doing this because my friend, Geth Jones, has been trying to get me to do it for a few years and whilst I liked the idea of having swum the North Channel I wasn’t that keen on the training or actually doing it! Sadly Geth passed away last year whilst on a bike trip in France. The next sea swim I did after hearing the news I realised I would now have to do the swim. 

Sadly a month later another friend, Paul O’Dwyer, died in a tragic accident. He was someone who often did crazy challenges for charity and so this is a perfect tribute to him also. 

I chose The Wales Air Ambulance Trust because they  were one of the charities picked for donations from Gethin’s funeral and they attended the incident that Paul was involved in so it has connections to both of these amazing people. I am grateful that both Geth and Paul’s family have allowed me to attempt this challenge in their memory. If I can summon even a fraction of their mental strength and tenacity then I should be able to get across to Scotland. 

If you can afford to give them I would be very grateful for any contributions. Thank you. 

Wales Air Ambulance Charity is funded by the people of Wales and requires £8 million a year to keep its four helicopters in the sky, serving Wales and saving lives. The charity can be anywhere in Wales within 20 minutes, its doctors and medics fly the A&E deptartment to the patient.It also runs the Children's Wales Air Ambulance service, transferring vulnerable babies and children to the specialist hospitals across the UK.Your donations will help keep this vital service in Wales.