A GROUP of solicitors will brave the cold waters of English Channel in a relay swim to raise funds for a charity supporting people with spinal cord injuries.
Team of a law firm, Trethowans Solicitors -Bournemouth, is excited to swim across English Channel this August and is on path of preparing and training for their mission.
Six solicitors will be swimming from Dover to France navigating during the day and night.
Andrew Mercer have been working with the company for almost thirty years. He says he has enjoyed working in a legal company and wants to give something back before he retires.
For the 59-year-old, this is not a first time he is taking part in a swim relay. At the age of 16, he swam the Channel in a relay for the Dover Lifeguards Club, where he had trained for many years, raising money for the RNLI.
Andrew said: “I will be sixty later this year and have always had it my head that I must do this swim again. A serious challenge and focus as I move into retirement.”
For Amy Croxford, this swimming has always been a part of her bucket list and when opportunity came, she jumped on it. The 40-year-old woman is rigorously training herself to be ready to dive into waters.
She said: “I am presently training at parkwood gym and five rivers in Salisbury but intend to venture into open water from March onwards.
"The cold terrifies me.”
Laura Trapnell, 53, a partner at Trethowans has always been a swimmer and adored her time in the sea. Despite this, she is scared to take on this challenge.
She said: “I’m terrified, it’s a huge challenge and one that I hope I am up to.
“I am determined not to let my colleagues down. I can so clearly picture us all on the beach in France, in tears, having completed this epic adventure.”
Emma Wilders-Pratt, 47, says she takes a huge comfort in the knowledge that she is a part of a brilliant team and looking forward for completing this challenge.
Team member, Jennifer Bowes, 41, has previously worked as a swimming coach and been a massive advocate for benefits of swimming.
She said: “I have been putting in the lengths at the pool, but my real challenge is going to be tackling the cold of the sea, as a I have poor circulation.
“I managed to get some sea swimming done which has helped boost my confidence a bit. I managed half an hour before my hands and feet started to go numb.”
Taylor Anderson, 29, is excited to overcome his fear of swimming and he has been involved in consistent training and keen to swim across the channel.
The group is raising funds for Aspire charity, a UK charity which supports individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries.
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