I'm delighted to announce that today I received a donation of £248 from Perrywood Primary and Nursery School, Worcester.  Staff and children raised the fantastic sum by holding a non-uniform day in aid of Acorns, and in support of my Channel swim.  Using the theme of Mad March, everyone at the school donned wacky, outrageous clothes and colourful wigs.

I was invited along for a photo opportunity with some of the children, and to receive the donations.  A press release will be published in the local papers in the near future.

Many thanks to everyone involved, and to everyone who took the effort to dress up.  The money really will make a huge difference to Acorns.

Last week the water temperature at the Hampstead lido had risen to a balmy 11 degrees.

Today it was back to just eight!

After an hour of being submerged in that temperature this morning, I looked very much like the image on the left.  I've already described the sensation on the body in a previous blog - but it's not pleasant.  

With my Channel attempt now just around 20 weeks away, my training plan shows that my distances need to rapidly increase week by week.  Being unable to endure the cold water for any longer than around an hour makes this task more and more complicated, and means that I have less and less time over the weekend with my family due to the necessity of seeking the warm waters of David Lloyds.

It's a good job we discussed this ridiculous idea in August last year.  The family are being very patient and supportive.  

And the schedule is only going to get worse from here on in.

There is a good possibility (subject to Ts and Cs, and other circumstances) that I have been selected to be one of five swimmers who will have their training filmed for a one-and-a-half hour documentary currently in production..

I will be filmed at the Hampstead lido in the next two weeks, followed by interviews at Dovetail, and at the Union Jack Club, where I will be staying in London.  

Hopefully, if things go according to plan, the film crew will also be coming along for my six hour qualifying swim, as well as joining me on the boat to film the actual Challenge attempt.

More details to follow, once things details have been confirmed.

Things are progressing nicely with the possibility of appearing in a documentary about Channel swimmers.  The film company have been in touch, have been impressed by what they have heard, and would like to proceed with an interview.  It currently looks as though we will be meeting at the beginning of April to commence the filming of my training journey and subsequent swim attempt.

It's all very exciting!

Today I have the honour of speaking to the children and staff of Perrywood Primary and Nursery School in Worcester.  I will be delivering a presentation around our need for Acorns when Harry was alive, and explaining the details of my Channel swim preparation.

Perrywood have kindly agreed to a no-uniform day this month, with the aim of helping me raise a total of around £300.  This is a wonderful example of community spirit, and I'd like to thank all of those involved for giving me the chance to talk to the (albeit captive) audience later this morning.  I hope I inspire and motivate the children and staff alike.

An exciting possible opportunity has suddenly arisen out of the blue!  An independent film company has contacted Dr. Julie Bradshaw, my Channel Swim mentor, asking if she could put them in contact with some swimmers who are currently training for, or contemplating, a Channel swim.  Julie has kindly put them in touch with me.

It’s early days yet, and it’s unclear right now exactly what they will be covering, or what they will want from me.  But at this stage we are pencilled in to meet during one of my outdoor swims at Windermere in May.  I’ll post more information on my blog as it becomes available.

Just before I jumped into the cold water today at Hampstead I was approached by a female fellow swimmer.  She had noticed my Channel Swimming Association swim cap, and asked if I had already swum the Channel, or if I was training to do so (who else would be so crazy as to be swimming in 10 degree water at 07:00 otherwise?).

It turns out that the lady (who's name I have unfortunately forgotten) has already completed the Channel swim.  This was an ideal opportunity for me to inquire as to whether I should, at this stage, be able to endure longer than an hour and a half in the cold water.  She was shocked I could even handle such a period of time.  'If you can cope with even an hour in this temperature, you're doing very well!  15 degrees will seem to hot, I can assure you.'

This was a massive relief.  I was beginning to worry that my inability to cope with the cold would reduce my chances of getting to France.  Such positive encouragement was extremely well received, and I jumped into the water invigorated by her words, and enthused as to my personal progress.

The deadline draws nearer and nearer.....

It's hard hauling myself out of bed at 05:20, gathering my stuff together, making a flask of tea, then dragging my backside across London for an hour to get to the pool.  And considering I am training to swim in the busiest shipping lane in the world, it is ironic (and more than a little annoying) to subsequently find that the pool is closed due to one of the three lifeguards not being able to attend work - especially considering that is it possible to stand up in around 1/3 of the 60 meter pool.

There are only 22 weeks now until my Channel challenge.  I need maximum exposure to outdoor swimming, and during the winter months, the pools are only open for a few hours in the morning.

Today, perhaps understandably, I'm slightly miffed at the ironic way my morning began.

Some excellent news!  My hopes of being able to attempt this English Channel swim have taken another big step forward this week.  The confirmation that Spire South Bank Hospital will assist in the financial sponsorship of the essential safety pilot boat means that I am now very, very close to full administration figure required.

With generous donations and wishes continuing to pour into my JustGiving site, administrative support becomes more and more vital.  The prospect of being unable to begin the swim due to insufficient funds is unthinkable now that over £2000 has already been pledged directly to Acorns, so the generous offer from Spire comes at a crucial time.  

The swim is now less than six months away!  Everything seems to be coming together nicely, albeit not without acknowledged effort from friends and family.  I'd like to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to Spire for their generosity at this crucial time in the Channel2014 campaign.

The total amount raised from my Channel Swim Challenge for Acorns by 1st March 2014 is £1,805.77!!!

It's a fantastic start, but I do want to continue aim for my original goal of £10,000.

By donating just £1 each (or $1 for our US friends), and then recommending two other people to also donate and pass on, let's see how much we can raise throughout the month of March.

As mentioned previously, please do not donate more than a £1, as this will skew the statistics, and may well put off other people who would have been happy to donate just £1.

To pledge now, please go here.  

At the end of the month I'll publish the new total!  Thanks in advance, and please do not forget to pass it on.....