Tooting: 'We did it!' - Channel Crackers complete gruelling channel swim

After a year's worth of setbacks, covid-impacted training and fundraising, four local women have completed their attempts in swimming the English Channel.

'The Channel Crackers' set off from Dover at 8.30pm on Wednesday (July 21) evening and ended up on Wissant Bay in France just after noon yesterday (July 22).

It's a remarkable achievement for the team, with Lisa Peake, Lorraine Jeffcoate, Vanessa Cowie and Sue Rentoul all completing the relay race, being supported by Nicole Murray who was the reserve swimmer. The women are all part of the South London Swimming Club, which is based at Tooting Lido.

They have managed to raise over £10,000 and counting, smashing their target of £6,000.

After completing their journey, Lisa Peake shared her delight with Tooting Nub News .

She said: "We did it! Landing in Wissant Bay, France in 15 hours 35 minutes.

"Swam night and day, encountering choppy seas, strong currents, swallowing seawater, and jellyfish stings, and raising over £10,000 for charity (Mind, Diabetes UK and the National Brain Appeal)."

The channel is a distance of 21 miles, however, with the tides it can be almost twice that amount. As it is a relay, each swimmer goes for an hour before swapping with another member who was in the boat which ran alongside the swim. The swimmer cannot touch the boat or another team member while they are in the water.

You can see their route from the picture.

The team are doing the swim on behalf of three charities - all of which have a personal link to the group: Mind UK, Diabetes UK and the National Brain Appeal's Rare Dementia Support Centre Fund.

The ladies have now passed £10,000 - but it would mean the world to them if they could get one last push from their supporters.

To donate, you can do so by going to their Money Giving page.

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