STUART MILLS

I cannot personally pinpoint the exact moment that my interest in swimming the Channel made the transition in my mind from an ‘interesting idea’ to a ‘must achieve lifetime ambition’ but it has been a goal of mine since May 2007 when preparation and training began.

Preparation and training? - for those of you that know me well, you’ll know I’m not the best prepared individual you’re ever likely to meet.  I normally follow an ethos of ‘I’ll sort it nearer the time or when I get there.

My initial view of preparation for swimming the Channel was, a chicken curry the night before, a couple of meat pies on the swim over and checking me trunks are well tied before getting into the sea at Dover.

Clearly after reading the many articles and books available the light came on inside my small mind that this perhaps was not an advisable approach as both the physical and mental preparation would need long and considered thought.

So here I am....a year into a three year journey and while running just over eight miles and swimming six miles a week, I understand that although this is a good start, I’m still nowhere near the level of fitness I need to be at to complete my own solo attempt of swimming the Channel in the summer of 2009.

In addition to the running, swimming and open water swimming this coming summer, I will be teaming up with 11 team members all raising money for Diabetes UK to swim a Cross Channel relay between Dover and Cap Gris Nez in France between the 17th and 22 August and as a result, I;ll be taking another big experience step closer to my personal goal.

So this is where you can help me.  I know the physical and mental challenges are demanding but can be overcome.  By pledging money to Diabetes UK, you’ll be playing an important part in driving me to complete the continually ramping and punishing training schedule while at the same time, you’re helping to raise money for a fantastic cause.