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 today and here we are, actually doing it. June 2026. No wetsuits. Just us and the Channel in our swimsuits. What were we thinking! 😅

Our relay team of six is made up of some truly special people. Having both Gigi and Jonty — my best friend's husband — in the team makes it incredibly special. And then there's Dom, Marie and Andrew, three incredible people who came together through chance, and I couldn't be more grateful to be swimming alongside them all.

I've always loved swimming. It's never just been exercise for me — it's where I feel most at home. So when the opportunity came to do something really meaningful with it, I knew I had to say yes.

Swimming the English Channel is no small feat. The waters are freezing, the currents are strong and it's one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. There's jellyfish, seaweed, the odd curious seal and the very real mental challenge of swimming in the dark. Each of us swims one hour at a time, rotating until we reach the French coast. It's a true test of endurance, teamwork and grit.

Why SwimTayka?

Because swimming isn't just a sport — it's a life skill that saves lives. Around 300,000 people die from drowning every year globally — that's more than 30 people every single hour. It's the third leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 14, and over 90% of those deaths happen in low and middle income countries. SwimTayka works to change that, providing disadvantaged communities around the world with access to swimming teachers — creating a legacy that passes from generation to generation.

My love of swimming started with my mum. She's the reason I feel so at home in the water, and doing something like this in her memory feels incredibly meaningful. I know she'd be so proud. 💙

Any donation — big or small — makes a real difference. Thank you so much for your support. 🙏