In November 2024 (over Sunday Dinner) I suddenly announced to my family that I had sent an enquiry to swim the English Channel. The look on my husband and kids’ faces was priceless. Anyone who knows me knows I love a fad and I’m sure those close to me thought, Yes Rach!!! But within a week I had been accepted and paid the deposit to be part of a 4 person relay team set to swim in Early August 2026. The slots for the swims are often booked years in advance and this was the first slot available.

But why… I guess it was a bit of a child hood dream. It might have been something to do with my Dad being from Dawley and growing up in Telford myself (The Birthplace of the iconic Captain Matthew Webb) My life had also come to a point where the kids were not as reliant upon me as they once were, I wanted to do something for myself and I also wanted my kids to have a cool story about their Mom when they were older.

The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and is approximately 33 land kilometres. My swim attempt will be observed by an on-board Channel Swimming association representative and as per the channel swimming association rules the swimmer cannot wear a wetsuit. The swim will be in water temperatures of around 16-19 degrees. That doesn’t seem that cold but when you compare this to the average swimming pool temperature of 29, it starts to hit home how cold this will be.

The last 10 months since getting into the team have been a complete whirlwind. Endless hours/ days/ weeks pacing swimming pools, lakes and the sea whilst listening to Whitney Houston on my MP3 player (a Christmas present from my ever supportive husband). I know a lot more work will be involved in the run up to the swim and my mileage will need to continue to increase but I’m ready and feeling stronger than ever.

The funding of the pilot boat, Channel swimming official and all other expenses has been funded by myself and Rich so any money donated will go direct to this amazing charity.

Thank you to those who have been so supportive to me so far. I promise once I have done this I will stop constantly talking about swimming.

In the words of Whitney Houston “I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadow, If I fail, if I succeed at least I lived as I believed…

Let’s hope I have a better experience in the water than Whitney.

If you would like to support me with a donation to the Alexa trust I would be forever grateful.

Thanks Rach