Ridiculous lengths

Never mind the poverty, swim the widths along with Mission Direct's own bathing belles

Two Mission Direct employees have decided to swim the English Channel. Clare Truter and Jackie Johnston started last week and hope to be finished by Christmas.

They will be swimming the 22 miles, equivalent to the distance between Dover and Calais in their local swimming pools – a total of 1,416 lengths in a 25m pool.

It means that they will have to put in an average of 118 lengths a week – 216 for Clare who breaks off halfway through the swim to lead a Mission Direct team in Cambodia.

They are both hoping to encourage other supporters to join them in completing the 22 miles – either at their local pool, or by any other means: running, walking or even by bike.

“I toyed with the thought of doing a real Channel swim” admits Clare “but I decided against that, as I don’t want to be covered in lard to stay warm. I want to get fitter, but don’t want to risk bumping into basking sharks or conger eels.”

To sponsor Jackie or Clare online: click here 

To join the swimathon, Contact Jackie at our offices on 01582 720056, and she can provide you with sponsorship forms, record cards for filling in the distances covered and some general tips on fundraising.