EC Solo swim 2026, take two.

My solo swim from England to France is fast approaching. Although last year’s wind blow out meant a further year’s wait, time has passed and my new swim window is upon us. Marathon swimming is about the long haul, and prepping for this swim, like other challenges in life, has meant persistence and resilience, even when the goal has felt very distant, too difficult, and well out of reach.

Summer 2026 is the 100th anniversary of the first woman to swim the Channel. It’s a nice synchronicity that my swim falls in this anniversary year of Gertrude Ederle’s crossing in 1926.

I am also swimming for a wider cause - helping the Whittington health charity make the children’s ward at Whittington hospital a more welcoming and playful space. In 2022, my granddaughter, who was then 3 years old, had pneumonia and RSV. She was hospitalised three times with breathing difficulties and received life saving care. During repeated stays on the ward, she regained her strength using the outdoor play area, funded by Whittington health charity. As her mother reflected, “my daughter loved the wonderful outdoor play area. It was so great to have access to fresh air."

The charity is focused on updating the children’s ward. They’re putting in floor-to-ceiling interactive artwork, updating the sensory room, installing virtual reality equipment to reduce stress during some medical procedures, and improving the overnight stay facilities for parents/carers, among other projects. These will help make the space even more conducive to healing.

My granddaughter is 7, her younger brother nearly 5, and a new sibling is due end of July! I gotta swim fast to make it to France before the new baby arrives and “Nonna 3.0” is required.

I’ve set up this JustGiving fundraising page to encourage donations from family and friends to support the Whittington health charity in delivering compassionate care to those in their community. From my experience, community support and care make all the difference to your well being.

No amount is too small, as collectively, it all adds up! Whatever you can contribute matters, even if just sharing this page is all you can do.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. Happily you can donate in your own currency too.

Thank you for your support!