| We are raising money for these charities: |
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| What are we doing? |
| We are attempting to swim the Channel on 11th July. Setting off from Shakespeare Beach between Dover and Folkstone we will aim for Cap Griz Nez, although how close we will get to hitting it is another issue all together. |
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| Who are we? |
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Glen Macfarlane, Brenda Pinkess, Lee Toms, Miranda Seymour, Steven Melluish
We are 3 men and 2 women, who have lived in the close community of Southfields in south west London, we all parents of children who have been at St Michaels school and all looking for a new challenge for 2008 that swimming the English Channel will provide. |
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| Why are we doing this? |
For me personally I decided to do the swim after standing on a cross channel ferry last year and looking back at the gradually disappearing coastline while my son asked me if we sank could I swim back to shore. I claimed I could, he protested that I couldn't... then followed a summer of severe swim training and planning.
Of course it goes without saying that all of us are completely committed to the charities we are supporting. |
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| How will we do it? |
As a team. Swimming as a relay team is a good way to begin the challenge. There are 5 of us swimming. Keeping the same rotation and only being allowed to stay in the water for 1 hour at a time. Each of us will aim to swim 1 1/2 miles an hour, which in cold choppy waters is considerably harder than managing it in the heated pool in Putney.
The distance for the swim varies hugely depending on how long it takes you to cross. If you catch the tide at the wrong time, then the surging north sea will suck you further down the French coast, lengthening the swim distance by anything up to 12 miles as the coast line drops further away.
Setting off at 4 am and swimming and allowing for a 25 mile crossing 1 1/2 miles an hour we should reach the French coast in 16.6 hours.... approx 8.45pm that night.
Thankfully the return journey only takes 1 1/2 hours |
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| What are the challenges? |
The famous UK weather, jelly fish, 90 cross channel ferries and up to 600 container ships and their detritus! Oh, and a water temperature of 15 degrees C
It's going to be very chilly! In fact the biggest barrier and reason for not making it is the cold.
The Channel Swimming Association regulations mean we are only allowed to wear a pair of speedo's together with the liberal application of regulation petroleum jelly and 2 light sticks for swimming when its dark. |
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| How can I help? |
Please sponsor us by making a donation at our 'Just Giving' page. Every pound you give will make a difference to charities we are supporting.
Messages of support and your prayers would also be gratefully received!
God bless,
Steve Melluish |
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