Eight swimmers. Two teams. Twelve hours. And one very big challenge.

We are Mission Impoolsible - eight members of Northants Triathlon Club (NTri) taking on the Level Water 12-Hour Swim Relay in Peterborough to raise money for a cause that means a great deal to us.

Our swimming backgrounds couldn’t be more varied. Among us are seasoned Ironman competitors and experienced open-water swimmers, alongside those for whom taking on a challenge like this is very definitely stepping into deeper water! But that’s rather the point. Whatever our experience, we’re taking this on together.

We’ve entered two teams of four, with each team keeping a swimmer in the water continuously for the full 12 hours.

That means every one of us will swim for THREE HOURS over the course of the relay.

Not three hours continuously, thankfully! Each swimmer will complete three separate hour-long stints, recovering while their teammates take over before getting back into the water and doing it all again. And again.

An hour of continuous swimming is a challenge. Doing it three times, as fatigue builds and the relay continues through the day and into the night, is going to be a serious test of stamina, resilience, teamwork and determination.

There may also be a considerable amount of cake.

Why are we doing it?

As swimmers and triathletes, we know just how much being confident in the water can give you. Swimming has brought all of us fitness, friendships, adventures, challenges and experiences that we might never otherwise have had.

But being able to swim is about much more than sport.

Level Water provides specialist one-to-one swimming lessons for children with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to learn a life-changing (and potentially life-saving) skill. Their work helps children develop confidence, independence and a love of the water.

We think that’s something worth swimming for.

So, while eight slightly tired NTri swimmers spending a combined 24 hours in the water might sound a little Impoolsible, we’re hoping it can help give more children the opportunity to discover what swimming can do for them.

Please sponsor Mission Impoolsible if you can.

Every donation, however big or small, will help support the brilliant work of Level Water and give eight of us a very good reason to get back into the water when our next hour comes around!

Same mission. Different strokes. Massive impact.