It seems like everyone's been getting into cold water swimming during our record-breaking hot spells this summer. It's so good for your health!

Unless you've fallen from a small boat in the middle of the English/French channel in an attempt to escape violence or torture in your country of origin, that is. Being in cold, deep water for hours on end, exposed to the elements, like the 40 men, women and children rescued as their boat capsized at the end of August, is no-one's idea of the safe, secure new start these people will have been looking for.

Freedom from Torture (Scottish charity number SC039632) helps asylum seekers and refugees in the UK to rebuild their lives following the psychological and physical consequences of torture. This month I'm challenging myself to swim the width of the English/French Channel (21 miles) to raise money for this much-needed cause. 

And while my complaints about sore limbs and picking pondweed out of my bikini bottoms will be nothing compared to the adversity facing those attempting the treacherous Channel crossing in a poorly-equipped boat, perhaps under cover of darkness and perhaps without even being able to swim, I'll be doing it to raise awareness and support for all those arriving here from untenable conditions, risking their lives because what they came from was even more scary.

Around 25,000 people are thought to have attempted to cross the Channel to claim asylum in the UK this year, and asylum claims are higher this year than in any 12-month period. 

With the climate emergency only set to increase the destitution, resource scarcity, conflict and authoritarianism of the most vulnerable countries on our planet, Freedom from Torture will be needed more than ever.

So if you can spare a few quid, please do!