About 15 months ago, an eclectic ragtag bunch of six misfits were brought together at Salford Quays, each with the silly idea that they'd like to swim across the English Channel. One person was even wearing Bermuda shorts! Needless to say, it sounded like a tall order. Ages ranged from 16 to 40 odd, swimming abilities even wider. Nevertheless, under the expert tutelage of Uswim's Karen Smith & Dave Quartermain, this ragtag bunch became a team.

Training began in earnest. Assessment sessions in Dock 9 at Salford Quays, open water training in Dock 9 and at Uswim's other fantastic venue at Boundary Park.

October came round quickly and brought the start of winter training and considerable miles in the pool. A combination of solo training and Uswim coached sessions saw each individual work on and improve different aspects of their technique and their swim. Video analysis honed this even further. This ragtag bunch was turning into something resembling a swim team! Progress was monitored through monthly 30/60 min distance trials (T30 / T60s).

We didn't forget the open water, though, oh no. This hardy sextet regularly took short swims/cold water immersion sessions, both informally and at Uswim's Polar Swims throughout the winter. It's fair to say that some enjoyed this more than others!

Soon the proper open water season was upon us, and all too quickly the race to get in 2 hour Channel Relay Qualifiers under 15.5°C before it got too warm! Most swimmers got this done in good time at Dock 9, but one swimmer refused to believe the temperature reading was already 17°C at Boundary Park. 2 hours later, mutiny was on the cards after being informed that the afternoon's swim would not count as a qualifier! Cool heads prevailed and the qualifier was completed in style the next weekend at Dock 9 in 14°C.

Our first big team challenge came in June at Uswim's Channel Up North event at Boundary Park. We swam the same distance (36km) as The Channel, only in slightly shallower and warmer climes, and without the winds and the tides! What's more, the event took place over night to prepare us for night swimming conditions. Everyone swam strong from 8pm until 8am - almost to the minute as we finished in just under 12 hours. A great swim!

Our next big team training event.... A 2 way swim up and down the length of Ullswater in the Lake District. To further replicate the very likely event of night swimming in the Channel, we undertook this swim overnight on Friday, 30th June/Sat, 1st July.

No tents or BBQs this time, just us with our boxes of kit & food on a boat! Oh - and Dover Souls Team Delta for company on the lake. Well done to them too. Another amazing swim and bonding experience. Swimming through the evening, dusk, middle of the night and dawn. More training followed, day and night, and before we knew it the day was upon us

We all travelled down to Folkestone on Friday, 1st September and gathered at our rented accommodation. Karen took the call from our pilot, Kevin Sherman, and gathered the team together to relay the news - we were swimming the next day! We all then waited nervously X Factor style for Karen to reveal the swim order - Gareth, Amy, Jon, Karen, Paul W and Paul B. We were all set!

A 5am start and then we headed down to the Dock to meet Kevin and our observers, Brendan and Paula. The boat was loaded, the tide rose, and we headed round the coast to start the swim at Samphire Hoe. Gareth jumped out and headed to shore, as we waved off a Turkish relay crew then had arrived just before us.

Gareth hit the shore, Paula blew the horn, and we were off!

It was a serene start in the beautiful morning sunshine, and the sea was like a mill pond. The lumps arrived eventually though, with Jon taking on the worst of the chop on the third leg, but battling strongly. Soon we realised that we were closing on the Turks! All swimmers were working hard, and by our sixth swim we exchanged waves and cheers with our new found continental friends, as Paul Banks took us past them.

Spirits were high on the boat, as the team enjoyed the (mostly) beautiful sunshine - dry robes definitely optional for the vast majority of the day! Lots of singing and dancing to the Spotify Channel Playlist.

Soon we were well into the team's second legs, when we realised that things were about to get a little bit tougher. On top the conditions were still great, but the tide had turned and we were heading out past the Cap Gris-Nez. Karen and Jon swam hard to keep us close, and as Paul Banks held on we were rewarded as the tide turned back towards land again.

Gareth jumped in for a third go, with a couple of miles to land. The tide turned a full 180 degrees, and he got them as close as possible but couldn't quite make it. So the honours went to Amy and Jon, who donned the glow sticks and swam the last few hundred hard metres in a tough tide as darkness fell. Amy literally hit the cliff (only minor scratches, don't worry!), photographic evidence was obtained, and they headed back to the boat.

A shattered team hit the sack, to rest up for a day of celebration. Brunch and a spot of shopping / pub crawling in Folkestone, followed by Jacuzzi and BBQ back at our house in the afternoon and evening. A great time had by all!

We can honestly recommend the Channel experience to anyone that has a love for swimming, regardless of your ability. If you are willing to put in the hard work, in the pool and in the open water, and you can work in a team and push each other on, then together you can achieve great things.

We are raising money for the St James’s Place Foundation ( http://www.sjpfoundation.co.uk/ ) in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. All donations received will go directly to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

In addition to this, the Foundation will match the amount raised twice over (not including Gift Aid), and use this to support small to medium-sized charities helping economically disadvantaged or socially marginalised young people in the UK ( http://www.sjpfoundation.co.uk/about-the-foundation/where-the-funds-go.aspx ).