The Challenge

Over Christmas 2025, I’m fundraising for the incredible Calais Appeal by swimming the distance of the English Channel (minimum 33.4km), using *only* sculling (on front or back) or other survival swimming techniques, without any flotation devices or buoyancy aids.

I will swim during available lane sessions in my local 25-metre pool, aiming to cover at least 35km (1400 lengths) and to complete the challenge within 14 hours of total swimming.

Schedule

• Block 1: 22–24 December 2025: minimum 25km (1 x ultra-marathon swim)

• Block 2: 30–31 December 2025: minimum 10km (1 x marathon swim)

TOTAL: 35km (3.5 marathon swims)

Tracking progress

Progress on the challenge will be tracked via swim.com and posted on my Strava profile (publicly accessible to any Strava users), with updates posted here at key milestones.

Supporting the Calais Appeal

Safe routes for human beings seeking refuge in the UK and in Europe are urgently needed. It was reported that in 2024, 82 people, including 14 children, died trying to cross the English Channel by small boat—a record number. In 2021, at least 27 people died in a single incident, with passengers left in the water for more than 12 hours after the first distress calls were made to UK authorities. Journeys to safety have become more dangerous due to the lack of regularized routes, and those making them continue to receive negative and misleading portrayals across various media. In this hostile environment, charities like For Refugees are having to step in to provide vital support where governments have failed.

Background

Calais Appeal is a consortium of six grassroots organizations, working together since 2021 to provide holistic support to displaced people in the France–UK border regions of Calais, Dunkirk, and Grande-Synthe, in northern France.

Please support me in aiding the Calais Appeal to continue offering essential help, including:

• distributing tents, tarps, sleeping bags, and blankets, providing some basic shelter for men, women, and children sleeping rough.

• providing SIM cards, internet connection, and electricity for people to access the information they need, and to keep in touch with loved ones.

• ensuring people can access drinking water on their own terms, with 24/7 water tanks.

• offering specialized services for women, including day centres and shower facilities to provide adapted support, rest, and respite.

• facilitating daily play and learning sessions for children excluded from education, and with limited access to safe spaces to play, learn, and grow.

• and, during the freezing winter months, distributing firewood to help ensure people can stay warm and cook hot meals.

As we reach the end of 2025, hateful narratives are growing louder and the political climate remains highly concerning. Calais Appeal is working hard to provide dignified and human support to people on the move at the UK–France border, as they will once again be forced to sleep rough during the freezing winter months.

What you can do

Please stand with people on the move by:

• making a donation—every contribution matters, no matter the size.

• sharing this fundraiser with your networks.

• organizing your own collection or event in your local area.

• helping to push back against any efforts to dehumanize or intimidate people seeking safety.