Halstead Swimming Club friends to swim English Channel to raise funds for Child Bereavement UK

Friends from a swimming club are about to embark on the challenge of a lifetime by swimming the English Channel.

The challenge is the idea of Danni Rulton, 26, a senior captain at Halstead Swimming Club, who wants to raise money and awareness of the charity Child Bereavement UK.

Danni, a physiotherapist at Ipswich Hospital, lost her mum when she was only 15 and knows how important support for children can be.

Danni said: “Mum died after what started as a blood clot. The main feeling ws one of isolation. I remember feeling like no-one understands.

“People say they are sorry, but it is difficult to understand at that age and this is why supportive charities like Child Bereavement are so important.

“It’s not a well-known charity, so I am hoping to raise awareness as well as £5,000 through donations.”

The team of five will swim 21 miles from Dover to Calais, setting off on August 27.

Danni and fellow senior captain Sam Johnson will be accompanied by Kai Adams, Ellie Johnson and Lewis Archer.

All the swimmers, who are aged between 25 and 28, have been members of the club since they were children and swimming together ever since.

Danni said: “The swim is a challenge we have all been wanting to do for a long time.

“As excited as we are, it is also incredibly daunting when we think about everything that we might come across, from jellyfish to some of the largest cargo ships in the world.

“We won’t know what time we are swimming until the evening before so we could even be swimming in total darkness.”

Danni added: “One of our team, Kai Adams, completed the swim back in 2012 with another team from Halstead Swimming Club, but it is totally new to the rest of us.

“We have been competing against and alongside each other for 18 years and always strive to push ourselves to something greater, but we have never taken on a challenge as big as this.

“It is taking a lot of hard work for us to be in the position to reach the French coast, including quite literally blood, sweat and tears.

“It will be more than worth it when we reach the other side.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com

Danni added: “Thanks to all those who have donated so far.”