A TEAM of Craven Pool based swimmers is set to swim the Channel - after putting in the hours both inside and out for two years.

Headed by Embsay solicitor and mother of two, Leslie Emilie Tuck, the six swimmers, will cross the Channel in a relay - each swimming for an hour in rotation.

The team - Leslie, Andrea Turpin, Lynne Midwinter, Coire Smith, Richard Lewis, from Barnoldswick, and Val Greenwood, have been trained by Craven Pool swimming teacher, Christine Bradley, who almost exactly two years ago completed a solo swim of the Channel in just under 19 hours.

With just a week to carry out their swim, they have just until Saturday(September 22) to complete it - or will be forced to wait until the next available slot.

All going well, the team - called the Channellettes y Hombre 2018 (one man and five women) - will set off from Dover Marina and land between 18 and 24 hours later in France, on a course determined by weather conditions on the day.

They will be accompanied along the way by the boat, The Optimist, captained by Paul Foreman - and family and friends will be able to keep an eye on their progress by logging on to: cspf.co.uk/tracking.

American born mother of two, Leslie, who grew up swimming in the rivers and beaches of North Carolina and New York, is doing the swim to raise money for the Embsay and Eastby Good Neighbour Scheme and for Sue Ryder Manorlands.

“I have done the Great North Swim several times, and was ready for a bigger challenge. Since, the one English body of water the Americans will recognize is the Channel, that became the obvious goal,” she said.

“I gathered a team together and we booked our boat in 2016. We have been training for the past two years and are coached by local Channel legend Christine Bradley who has completed a relay and a solo crossing of the Channel.”

Leslie, who works for Mewies Solicitors in Skipton, said she had visited Manorlands several times as part of her job of preparing wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

“I have attended clients at Manorlands, and I am always impressed, and inspired by their smiles and dedication at caring for those who are dying or in need of respite care. The Co-op Petrol Station at Cross Hills is also raising money for the hospice and is helping us in our efforts to fundraise including providing the petrol for the journey down to Dover.”

She also wants to raise money for the village’s Good Neighbour Scheme because of the work it does to help isolated people.

“I am a befriender for a lovely man who has lost his sight in the village, and I read to him every week,” she said.

Andrea Turpin, a counsellor, started swimming outdoors five years ago with like minded friends as a way of socialising, experiencing a feeling of aliveness, and a buzz.

It then became a challenge to swim all year without a wetsuit- in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, dams and the sea. She has even broken the ice to swim in four degrees centigrade.

“Swimming the English Channel during her 54th year is the biggest challenge of her life,” says Leslie. “Especially since she recently mastered front crawl through her sheer determination and coaching with Christine and the swim may take between 18 - 24 hours which will mean swimming through the night and into a sunset or sunrise.”

Andrea has set herself a target of raising £2,000 to support 10 five to 11 year old vulnerable children from Calderdale to support the counselling at Noah’s Ark Centre which they desperately need.

The money will pay for 12 sessions of one to one counselling in a playroom at the centre, or in a school.

The children may be suffering from anxiety, have low self esteem, have experienced or witnessed Domestic Violence, suffered trauma and they may have parents suffering with Mental Health issues.. Andrea’s fundraising efforts can be supported on line at: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andreachannelswimachievemnet2018?

Lynne Midwinter, a physiotherapist, was a latecomer to the team and is raising money for Jane’s Place in Burnley - a SafeNet ‘Recovery Refuge’ designed specifically for women and children at risk of domestic abuse who have additional complex-needs.These may include mental or physical ill-health, drug and or alcohol dependency or a combination. Lynne can be supported via her page at: localgiving.org/fundraising/lynnechannelswim/

Coire Smith, a mother of two and keen open water swimmer, has this year got married, qualified as a doctor and is now a GP at a practice in Trawden.

Her love of open water swimming has given her some incredible experiences - swimming under the northern lights and the milky way, and in the Fairy Pools on Skye.

She has also done medical cover for ice swimming, and ever since she was very young, had a desire to swim right out into the middle of the sea.

“Because of my schedule, a solo crossing is not possible right now, so this is the closest way to achieve my goal. The Channel is one of the ultimate challenges for an open water swimmer so I couldn’t pass up the chance.”

Coire is raising money for Field Nurse, a charity providing outreach health care to the farming community, by having health checks at auctions and agricultural shows and also for Manorlands. Support Coire at: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/corrie-smith?and also for Manorlands.

Richard Lewis- the ‘Hombre’ part of the team - can be found most Tuesday mornings in the pool at West Craven Sports Centre, Barnoldswick doing sets, or on his bike over the moors.

“Because he is so speedy in the water I was keen to have him on our team,” said Leslie. “ Switching from pool swimming to open water swimming has been a big adventure in itself for Richard which he has tackled with grace, and he is looking forward to meet this challenge head on.”

Richard’s chosen charity is Brain Tumour Research in memory of his Dad, his justgiving page is: justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-lewis65.

Val Greenwood, who joined the team from down south, wanted a big challenge after turning 60 in 2013.

“As a former runner she joined part of a relay team organized by Diabetes UK to swim the the Channel. Unfortunately due to unforeseen swells, tides and weather conditions, the team, after 12 hours of swimming, had to go back to England,” said Leslie.

“She is not one to leave a goal unfulfilled. So at 65 it’s time to try again! She is joining Channellettes y Hombre to finish the job in this iconic swim and to prove to those who sponsored her so generously last time that she didn’t give up. She won’t be raising money directly this time but would love to tell all her sponsors from last time, who helped her raise £2,500 for Diabetes UK, that she has finally done it.”

Leslie said the team plans to hold a big party after the swim both to celebrate the crossing and to continue raising money for their chosen charities.

“We all could not have done this without the love and support from our friends and family, “ she said.