About 10 years ago, after a few too many drinks, my friend Gigi and I made a wild, slightly ridiculous pact: we were going to swim the English Channel.

Fast forward to 2026 and, somehow, I’m still doing it. 😂

In June, after a year of training and waiting in Dover, I finally found myself on a boat heading across the Channel with my relay team. Unfortunately, severe seasickness meant I wasn’t able to swim my leg. I was absolutely heartbroken, but I stayed on the boat with my teammates for the crossing, cheering them on when I could and, importantly, taking notes!

The team made it across, but I knew I wasn’t quite ready to let the dream go.

So, later this September, I’ve been given another chance.

This time I’ll be swimming with a new relay team, the Relay Rebels, with the same goal: crossing the English Channel in our swimsuits, with no wetsuits and absolutely no guarantee that the sea will cooperate!

I’m feeling much better equipped this time, with more experience, a better understanding of what to expect and some serious anti nausea backup. The Channel will still have the final say, but I feel incredibly lucky to have another shot.

I’ve always loved swimming. It’s never just been exercise for me. It’s where I feel most at home. So taking on something this challenging, while raising money for a charity I really believe in, feels incredibly meaningful.

Swimming the English Channel is no small feat. The water is cold, the currents are strong and it’s one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. There are jellyfish, seaweed, the odd curious seal and the very real mental challenge of swimming in the dark. In a relay, each swimmer takes their turn for an hour before rotating with the next person, continuing until we reach the French coast. It’s a huge test of endurance, teamwork and grit.

Why SwimTayka?

Because swimming isn’t just a sport. It’s a life skill that can save lives.

Around 300,000 people die from drowning every year globally, and drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children and young people in many parts of the world. SwimTayka works with disadvantaged communities to provide access to swimming lessons and water safety education, helping people develop skills that can protect them for life and create a legacy that passes from generation to generation.

My love of swimming started with my mum. She’s the reason I’ve always felt so at home in the water, and doing something like this in her memory makes it even more meaningful. I know she’d be incredibly proud.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. Your encouragement and generosity genuinely meant the world to me.

I’ll be continuing to fundraise for SwimTayka as I take on this second attempt, so if you’d like to support me and this brilliant charity, any donation, big or small, would mean so much.

Thank you. 💙