Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page, we hope you enjoy reading our page and can help raise money with us as an individual or team.

WHY SWIM THE CHANNEL ?

During 2021 a Consett Rotarian was in training to swim the English Channel, alone, progress was going well having racked up a few 10 mile swims.

A slot had been booked with the Channel Swim Association for August 2023.

As part of training for the event in 2022, it was noted that that instead of improving, swim times were getting slower and slower. July 2022 came and a hospital visit was required due to severe fatigue, subsequently diagnosing a very rare form of stomach cancer, at the time diagnosed as palliative with 6 to 9 months life expectancy.

Come February 2023 and having responded to chemotherapy, and then a complete Gastrectomy, the idea of doing something to recognise and progress with what would have been a great event for charity (the channel swim), the idea was proposed to try and achieve AT LEAST the 22 miles (English Channel narrowest point) but in a more manageable way.

As a group we are looking to raise as much money as possible to support cancer charities in and around the Consett area including Willowburn, Macmillan and Consett Community charities amongst others.

THE CHALLENGE

The challenge is to swim at least the distance of the English Channel which is roughly 22 miles. This equates to 1408 lengths of the pool or 235 lengths per lane of the pool. DONT let this put you off, the target is a total of all lengths swam, and NOT an individual target, though if you feel you are capable, no one is going to stop you !!!

Consett Leisure Centre has allowed us the use of the pool on Sunday 20th of August. The Rotary Club of Consett has funded the complete hire of the pool and facilities.

HOW WILL WE RAISE MONEY ?

You are welcome to take part as an existing group (Police, Fire, Scouts, Cadets, Private Company, Networking Group, swimming clubs in the North East etc) or form your own group, undertaking a relay style event or just a group who just wants to rack up the lengths. Please get in touch and we can arrange sponsor forms and offer other methods to raise money. The email address for the event is teamchannelchallenge@gmail.com

You can also just raise money and donate directly to this page stating who you are/the group you belong to and what your target distance is.

If you are an individual swimmer, as I will be, then why not contact your friends and family for donation for this amazing event.

On the door; on the day of the event you are welcome to just show up and make a donation to this page or make a cash donation in the buckets which will be provided.

THE POOL

There are 6 lanes available - the two outer most lanes will be for persons with accessibility needs, who may also need supervision in the pool.

There will be a lane for very strong swimmers (masters), a lane for strong swimmers, a lane for those undertaking relays and a lane for leisure swimmers.

Lane usage/capabilities may change subject to the level of interest.

Please get in touch via the email above or via this web site.

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