12 months ago, I joined three brilliantly bonkers friends in a 24-hour swim relay. We took turns plunging into a cold lake, lap after lap, growing colder, wobblier, and more sleep-deprived by the hour. Most people would sensibly say: never again. But me? I’m diving back in—this time SOLO.

Yes, every hour, on the hour, for 24 hours straight, I’ll be dragging myself into the water—from midday Saturday, through the night, until Sunday lunchtime. Colder, more exhausted, and then colder again.

But here’s the twist…I have persuaded not only my far too sensible brother Anthony to join me, but that wonderfully eccentric, ever-cheerful 14-year-old daughter Abi too. Both plan to be laughing at me slurring and stumbling around at 3am (as if I don’t do that anyway). In reality, I suspect we’ll be laughing at each other as we plunge into pitch-black cold water in the dead of night. Whose crazy idea was this again?

We’re taking on this madness for an amazing cause: raising money to fund swimming lessons for disabled children. On land, barriers pile up. In water, those barriers disappear—and with your support, we can help children experience the freedom of swimming like dolphins.

This challenge is brutal. The sleep deprivation is nuts. The cold is relentless. The distance is outrageous. But if you don’t fancy backing my solo descent into hypothermia, sponsor Abi & Anthony instead—every time they have to put on wet cold swimming costumes will be uncomfortable & it will send a shiver down their back.

Abi and Anthony will post live updates of our adventure, plus some highly embarrassing photos of me falling apart through the night

And if you’re anywhere near the Cotswolds on 20th September, come down to Lake 32, cheer us on, and be part of something that really changes lives.

Cold water, no sleep, endless laps… all for the joy of seeing kids swim free.

Every £15 funds a life-changing lesson. Please donate what you can and help us make a difference!

Abi, Anthony & Paul ...... just nipping out for a swim