I started open-water swimming a few years ago to fight my fear of fish (!) and I keep taking on challenges to see how brave I can be. Michael and I are fellow school governors, and I found out that he shares my love of swimming. He told me about a crazy plan to raise money for the Oxford University Hospital PCCU, and I agreed immediately to my hardest challenge yet.

I'll be relay swimming across the English Channel in July 2025 alongside a team of amazing medical professionals. We will test ourselves against the cold, the jellyfish, the tides and the weather, with no wetsuit, in order to raise funds for equipment to treat critically ill children.

I'm not an athlete, just an ordinary mum, so it's time to ramp up the training! I'm looking ahead to many pool laps, numerous icy-cold lake swims, and hopefully lots of training fuel (cake).

All in aid of raising money to develop, equip and expand the Paediatric Critical Care Unit in Oxford.

The PCCU Channel Swim - Fundraising Appeal for Oxford University Hospital's Paediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU)

Around 1,000 young patients are cared for here every year – children from across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire and in some cases across the UK. The growing demand for our local, regional and national services means we need to equip and expand our PCCU.

To support this, we are excited to announce an incredible fundraising challenge! Six brave swimmers will be participating in an English Channel relay in July 2025. The water will be cold and the distances demanding, but the team have trained over the winter in local pools and lakes. And, with the onset of spring, we now launch the official fundraising campaign.

Rosie Priddy, PCCU nurse, swimmer and team coach says: " I've worked on PCCU for over 15 years and am excited to be part of the next stage of its growth. I love a challenge - on land or in the water (although this might be the scariest so far) - so I am determined to face jellyfish and other unknown depths to help raise funds for our PCCU."

Michael Carter, Consultant on the PCCU, recalled about his previous effort in 2021: “We started just after midnight to catch the tide out from Dover, cold (11 degrees C), but by sunrise three hours into the adventure, the sea was warming… and then a pair of orcas swam under the support boat - the team on the boat only told me after!”

Every donation made to support these courageous swimmers will directly benefit our paediatric intensive care unit, helping us to buy equipement that is cruicial for treating critically ill children.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

DONATE: Every pound raised will go towards growing and equipping our PCCU.

ENCOURAGE: Share this campaign with friends, family, and colleagues and inspire them to give.

FOLLOW THE JOURNEY: Keep up with the swimmers’ progress as they train and prepare for this extraordinary challenge.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MAKE A DIFFERENCE! TOGETHER, WE CAN SAVE LIVES.