This August I'll be cementing some pretty distinctive forehead tan lines (see the reference picture in the gallery above) by attempting to swim the English Channel from England to France.

There are rules, of course. No wetsuit. No touching the boat until we reach France. No underwater earphones. Just me, my swimsuit, my goggles and a hat, taking on roughly 35 kilometres of open water. There will be jellyfish. There may even be sewage (thanks for that, everyone). The water will probably be about 18/19 degrees. And it is going to take me quite a long time - I am not going to guess how long because there are far too many variables involved.

My grandad, John, died on 2 June 2026 after living with dementia for the last few years of his life. While there were moments of unexpected humour- at times he was convinced he was a professional footballer- it’s a grim disease and one that has affected far too many people, including many of those I know.

My grandad received incredible support from nurses, which is why I’ve decided to raise money for Dementia UK. Their specialist dementia nurses provide life-changing support to families affected by all forms of dementia. The boat has been paid for, so whatever you donate will go to them.

I should also point out that this is an attempt. The weather has the final say, so it may not happen- although it is more likely to take place later than planned than not at all. And yes, it’s entirely possible that I won’t make it all the way across but I will certainly give it everything I’ve got. Whether I make it to France or not, every donation will help Dementia UK continue supporting families affected by dementia. The forehead tan lines are just an added bonus.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.