SEVEN SWIMMERS from Erith & District Swimming Club swam 21-miles relay style across the English Channel on 23 July to raise money for Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice.

37-year-old Mark Russell from Bexley was accompanied by John Burdett (Dartford), David Kane (Bexleyheath), Jenny Vick (Erith), father and daughter Tony and Joanne Ball from Bexleyheath and Richard Wilding from Erith (in reserve). The team swam in one-hour relays from Dover to the French coast in 11 hours 4 minutes.

"We set off at 7.50am on what started out to be a bright sunny day but it soon turned overcast. A couple of us had a touch of sea sickness," said Mark Russell.

"The water was 16 degrees and the shipping lanes were very choppy. Along the way we faced cold water, jellyfish and ferries!"

"It was great to reach the French coast in 11 hours 4 minutes. It took an hour and a half on our little boat to return to Dover."

"We've raised £3000 so far of which half will come back to Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice, a local charity that offers much-needed palliative care and support services for people with life-limiting illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers."

If you would like to support the team you can do so by emailing: channel@edsc.org.uk .