So it's really happening! We are swimming the English Channel, 'La Manche', the busiest shipping area in the world, in a 4 person relay. After booking our pilot boat, The Masterpiece, in September 2021, I'm not sure I ever thought this was going to happen but it's now just over 3 months away!

I have decided to do my swim for the incredible David Nott Foundation, a charity I have been giving to every month for the last couple of years after reading David's inspirational book, 'War Doctor'. As with all requests for donations, whatever you can afford to give will be hugely appreciated and if you can't afford to give, please send us some warming vibes to keep us going!

The David Nott Foundation is the only charity empowering frontline doctors with surgical skills in conflict zones. We train war doctors to save more lives. We do this by delivering a 5-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course as close to the frontline as possible, in countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine. Since our beginnings in 2015, we’ve trained over 1300 doctors in 44 courses and are committed to growing our global network of lifesavers. We are so very grateful to every single fundraiser. We cannot continue our mission without your support.

So, details of what I will actually be doing - there are 4 people in the 'Keep Calm and Channel On' team, myself, Nicole, Sylvia and Bill. We will each be swimming for 1 hour and then 3 hours off, while the other three swim, sitting in the gently rocking boat attempting to keep warm and trying not to be sick!! We have no real idea how long it is going to take us as it depends on the tides, but we think it might be around the 12 - 16 hour mark. In our quest to make it to the other side we will battle jellyfish, the cold, seasickness, night swimming (what exactly is under there?!), cargo ships, people eating bananas next to me! And if that last one is not enough to make you sponsor me, I don't know what is!!

Kate Ribeiro dos Santos (B 92-94)