Family to swim Channel to raise money for charity

Four members of the same family will team up to swim across the English Channel to raise money for the Stroke Association charity.

Faversham family Ryan Godfrey, 52, and his sons Nathan, 22, Alex, 20, and Ben, 18, will be braving the busiest shipping lane in the world in August, as part of a relay team.

They say they will be raising funds after seeing the work that Ryan's wife, Debbie, does in helping people who have had a stroke to recover.

Ryan previously swam across the Channel in 2024 and said: "I said to my boys - tongue in cheek - wouldn't it be great to do a father and son relay? To my surprise they all agreed. Two years later, here we are."

The family have been training for several months, with swimming sessions throughout the winter in the outdoor pool at Faversham Swimming Pools to get used to cold water, plus regular trips to Dover to train in the sea and experience open-water conditions.

They will attempt the challenge between 28 August and 2 September, depending on sea conditions and are aiming to do the crossing in 12 hours or less.

The straight-line distance across the English Channel is 21 miles (33.7km), however because powerful tidal currents push swimmers sideways in a zigzag or S-shape path, most crossings actually cover between 25 and 35 miles (40.2km and 56.3km).

Ryan added: "Three close friends of ours have all suffered strokes in their early 50s, each with life-changing consequences.

"Watching how stroke has affected them and their families has shown us just how devastating it can be."

Cristina Bayliss, the Stroke Association's Kent service delivery coach, said: "We're hugely grateful to Ryan and his sons for taking on this remarkable family challenge and wish them well."

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