TWO Christchurch nurses are ‘swimming The English Channel’ to help provide a virtual day centre for terminally-ill patients during lockdown.

Clinical nurse specialist Rachel Easton and staff nurse Holly Warren support people with life-limiting illnesses at the Macmillan unit palliative day centre in Christchurch.

But the Centre is currently closed due to Covid-19 and many of its clients are shielding at home, with little outside contact.

Each day before or after work, since October 19, Rachel and Holly have been braving the sea near Boscombe Pier to swim a kilometre between them, with the aim of swimming a total of 34km - the distance between England and France.

The friends are fundraising for the Macmillan Caring Locally (MCL) charity, which is independent of the national Macmillan charity, ,and supports the day centre and the Macmillan unit hospice.

Holly, 37, said: “The day centre plays a huge role in many of our patients’ lives, enriching their wellbeing and mental health and providing a crucial connection to their peers. But the pandemic is preventing them from physically attending.

“With Macmillan Caring Locally’s help we are actively adapting our service so that patients can still get together from their homes using video conferencing.

“This week we provided our first three online sessions: yoga and two quiz/chat sessions and our clients were so grateful for the chance to interact with us and others and take part in activities together.”

“We also hope to employ a range of therapists to widen the range of sessions we can provide and also buy materials so people can take part in online practical sessions at home.”

Rachel, 43, added: “MCL’s help to establish this online day centre has been invaluable for everyone and we wanted to do something to show our gratitude and also contribute to the charity’s ongoing work supporting both the Day Centre and the Macmillan Unit.

“Holly and I both took part in the Macmillan White Christmas Dip at Boscombe last Christmas, dressed as penguins and really enjoyed it, so we thought we would raise money through a sea swim.

“Obviously this is very different than a one-off sea plunge; each day, for over a month we are getting changed on a beach, with numb fingers, sometimes in the rain and then swimming in the cold sea.

“This week we have also had quite large waves to contend with and there has been ice on our windscreen some mornings. But there have been some high points, such as swimming under the stars and thanks to the huge support we are getting – and a great deal of hot tea! - we are actually enjoying it.”

The nurses can be sponsored at justgiving.com/fundraising/rachel-holly-palliative-nurses.

Neal Williams, Macmillan Caring Locally trust secretary, said: “Rachel and Holly are outstanding medical professionals who provide a lifeline for their patients.

“The fact that they are also willing to jump into the freezing sea to raise funds to support them is simply wonderful.

“We hope people will sponsor them and make all those cold mornings just that little bit bearable for these amazing nurses.”

You can also follow the nurses’ adventure on Instagram @hollys_journey_home and @rachsameast