Channel swim marks college centenary

Students from a Hampshire college are set to mark the institution's 100 year anniversary by swimming the English Channel.

The 22-mile relay will take place in August with six plucky students from Brockenhurst College swimming from Dover to Calais in a target time of 14 hours.

They will take it in turn to swim, supported by a dedicated team boat throughout the crossing.

The group, who have named themselves The Brock Badgers_, will become the first College team to complete this challenge.

They also plan to raise money for charity as each student has to raise £1,500 to take part.

Training is already underway with a rigorous schedule in all weathers to ensure they are fit and ready.

The monies raised will support the _Aspire _charity, which provides practical support to the 40,000 people with a spinal cord injury in the UK, helping them to lead fulfilled and independent lives.

The initial team of eight students has been named as: Libby Pardoe, Isobel Pope, Hannah Stevenson, Rose Wright, Simon Price, Ali Rogers, Cianan Mann and Adam Gough.

Libby says of her latest challenge: “I want to do the Channel swim for three reasons: to raise money for Aspire to help people who have sustained spinal injury; to achieve my personal ambition to swim the Channel; and to share the experience with my College friends to achieve something that has never been done before.”

Principal of Brockenhurst College, Di Roberts said: “This challenge shows immense dedication and courage from our students and is an excellent way to start our Centenary celebrations.

"The College will be cheering them with every stroke they make and with every pound they raise for charity.

"They are truly great ambassadors and I will be tremendously proud as we see them off from Dover in August.

"I am also so very grateful to the staff and parents who are supporting them in this once-in-a-life-time adventure.”