SURFRAJETS: SWIMMING THE CHANNEL FOR CHARITY

Today I was lucky enough to welcome to the Latest TV studio three surfrajets, part of a team of women undertaking a cross channel relay swim for charity. Julia, Lina and Elaine with their friends Shirley, Kasia and Valentina will undertake the challenge this coming August and have been in intense training for over a year now. You can hear them explain why and how they are feeling about the swim on Latest TV news this week. Each member has chosen their own charitable cause so here, in their own words, they tell their own stories and offer QR codes so, should you wish to, you can contribute to their fund raising endeavours.

You can follow their progress on Instagram  @surfrajets

Julia Claxton

Fundraising for Choose Love UK

Looking back on my 70 years I’ve been privileged to move freely around the world, been treated with kindness, had so much more than basic needs met without question. At a time of so much discord and upheaval in the world supporting those who don’t have this luxury, who have been forced to leave home in search of safety, is more vital than ever.

One of my earliest memories is of swimming with angel fish in the Gulf of Aden where my RAF father had been posted. Most days we were in the sea or the pool and I loved it. My first job was as a pool lifeguard, and though I’ve traveled the world and played many different roles since my love for being on or in the water endures. To celebrate turning 50 I learned to scuba dive and did reef conservation surveys in Fiji. After moving to Brighton year-round sea swimming became a breeze (thank you Salty Seabirds!), and a childhood dream of swimming the Channel slowly resurfaced. When I suggested it to fellow Salties I thought I might be too old and slow. Coach Christine kindly disabused me of that notion… So here I am, training like mad, celebrating my 70th birthday by swimming the channel in a team of 6 wonderful women – we are The Surfrajets! The tide window for our swim is at the end of July 2026 and you can follow our journey on Instagram @thesurfrajets

Lina Duncan is raising money for a registered Thousand 4 1000 CIO (Charity number 1171590) 

Making homes for refugees is Thousand 4 1000 CIO, Brighton’s community response to  enforced homelessness among forced migrants, creating a safe, welcoming & hospitable environment, so that destitute people have secure homes. It aims to bring together thousands of people who can give as little as £1 a month to provide secure accommodation for some of the most marginalised people in our community. Together we can make space for all.

I  acknowledge my privilege to choose to swim a Channel relay swim, recognising that to 1000’s of people fleeing danger, the Channel is a dangerous & terrifying barrier and the border is hostile. There is no safe passage to safety & sanctuary & every year people die, attempting to reach their rite to safety & seeking asylum in this country. In 2024 a third of the deaths estimated  (there is no accurate documentation) were children. *source – RNLI website.

Kasia Wilton is fundraising for the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project

I have chosen to support the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project – the UK’s largest marine rewilding effort. I’ve been swimming almost every day and can sadly testify that Sussex Bay is almost devoid of life.  But it wasn’t always like this. Vast kelp forests once supported an extraordinary diversity of marine life. So I would love to give something back and help to restore our kelp forests—for us and all for all the other wondrous beings with whom we share this beautiful blue planet.

Shirley McDowell is raising money for Lymphoma Action

I am attempting this challenge in memory of my partner Niall Chafey, who tragically passed away in 2024, aged only 57. He was diagnosed in early 2021 with ENKTCL, an extremely rare and very aggressive type of Lymphoma. Despite his gruelling treatment, he never complained and was always positive, selfless and full of hope and humour, right to the end. Our time together was cruelly cut short, but I try to console myself by reflecting that we were so lucky to have met each other and share the time we had.

Shirley will also be celebrating a milestone birthday this year.

This summer I am swimming the English channel as part of a 6 women relay team, the “Surfrajets”. I am attempting this challenge in memory of my partner Niall Chafey, who tragically passed away in 2024, aged only 57. He was diagnosed in early 2021 with ENKTCL, an extremely rare and very aggressive type of Lymphoma. Despite his gruelling treatment, he never complained and was always positive, selfless and full of hope and humour, right to the end. Our time together was cruelly cut short, but I try to console myself by reflecting that we were so lucky to have met each other and share the time we had.When I moved to Hove I started sea swimming and met a fantastic and incredibly supportive group of swimmers. One of them, Julia, asked if I would be interested in joining a channel relay team. She was planning on celebrating her 70th birthday in 2026 by taking on the challenge. It was not something I had ever wanted to do, but it dawned on me that I would also be celebrating a birthday milestone and had no excuse really. So here I am!

Elaine O’Connor is raising money for OCULAR MELANOMA UK

OM is a rare cancer found in the eye and often results in removal of the eyeball itself which together with having cancer anyway is not only lifechanging but scary. OcuMel UK was a source of strength, information and community for my dear friend Beth who suffered with this and I know also to many other people with OM taking away some of the fear and isolation that the condition brings. As a small charity any support is really needed and gratefully received

Most people who know me will know my beautiful and courageous friend Beth Walsh who was diagnosed a few years back with Ocular Melanoma. That’s me and her in my profile picture. OM is a rare cancer found in the eye and often results in removal of the eyeball itself which together with having cancer anyway is not only lifechanging but scary. OcuMel UK was a source of strength, information and community for my dear friend and I know also to many other people with OM taking away some of the fear and isolation that the condition brings. As a small charity any support is really needed and gratefully received so when my lovely Beth let me know that OcuMel UK had managed to secure spaces in the Brighton Marathon, and that the head office was down the road in Worthing, I knew the universe was telling me something (get off your bum and get fit Elaine). As a build up, I have already completed half marathons in Finsbury Park and Worcester, the Arun 3.8k river swim and London to Brighton bike ride in 2025. The Brighton Marathon is on 12 April 2026 and I have also joined a 6 woman team (the Surfrajets 😊) to swim the English Channel as a relay in August. Thanks for listening! Elaine x