WE DID IT! Starting in the dead of night at 12:35am the Aspire Tuna team swam on hourly rotation from Dover to Wissant, landing on the sandy shore around 3pm UK time on Friday 31 July 2026.

The sea was wavy, the sick buckets passed around like a parcel at a children's party. The jellyfish were far fewer than feared, and the water much warmer than any of the training weekends we'd endured through the early summer.

Take a look at the gallery for some pics of the day - and don't forget to donate!

Here's where it all started:

DESPITE ONLY LEARNING TO SWIM properly in 2024 so I could complete the Ironman swim, and being one of the last athletes out of the water that day, I've somehow managed to agree to swim to France in 2026!

Here's a bit of backstory:

One of my triathlon buddies has completed the channel swim relay TWO times and is now training for her solo crossing. One balmy Tuesday morning when we'd just finished a nice jog around the park, she said "wouldn't it be good if we could make a 10IronWomen team for a channel relay?" and I said "OK."

Then I found out about the qualifying weekends:

To get certified to be allowed to swim the channel, one must spend 90 minutes in sub 16ºC water, then rest for an hour and get back in for another hour. The combined terror of hypothermia, jellyfish and drowning threatened to put me off the challenge for a moment.

Then I listened to some of the stories from people supported by Aspire, the spinal cord injury charity I'll be supporting with this swim.

EVERY YEAR IN THE UK, more than 4,700 people sustain a spinal cord injury and like most of us, they are completely unprepared for how it will change their lives. Historically, most of spinal cord injuries have happened to young men in their 20s and 30s, but as more people live active and

Aspire offers practical support to the 105,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK, from newly injured patients in hospital and throughout their lives. This support allows people with spinal injury to lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, in their workplace and in leisure time.

The Aspire Leisure Centre in North West London iwas the first fully integrated community leisure centre in Europe for both disabled and non-disabled people. The centre is connected Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, allowing it to be regularly used in rehabilitation for people with Spinal Cord Injury.

EVEN IF you've never met someone with a spinal cord injury, or someone with limited mobility who uses a wheelchair or other mobility device, most of us can empathise with the thought of losing in a single moment the freedom we take so much for granted in our able bodies.

Whatever you can donate to help me meet what I admit is a big target, will be gratefully received. If you an afford to give a little amount each month as training progresses and the big day approaches, that would also be very much appreciated.

STAY TUNED for events and other news from me and the 10IronWomen team as we invite our supporters to take part in some open water swimming and cold dips so you can get a taste of the challenge ahead!

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. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.