Challenge complete! The Light Fund English Channel Relay swimmers emerge victorious

The Light Fund relay swimmers are “euphoric, exhausted and completely humbled” this afternoon, with both teams having safely reached French soil having begun their epic challenge to swim the English Channel around 11pm last night (29 June).

Team Optimist (Ian Down (captain), Eion Wallace, Katie Price, Jason Goonery, Mark Bezodis, Kevin Langstaff and reserve Tasmyn Knight) and Team High Hopes (Stephen Gould (captain), Mark Kingston, Rhys Fleming, Anna Hewitt, Anne Bradford, Simon Gresswell and reserve Terry Lamb) battled severe sea sickness due to extreme swells during the challenge.

Rhys Fleming was the first swimmer to touch French soil in 14 hours and 56 minutes. Team Optimist reached French soil in 15 hours 24 minutes.

Stephen Gould commented: “An incredible achievement against all the odds, very tough, extreme weather conditions, a true whole team effort, where determination and tenacity triumphed at the end of the day. We experienced the Channel in its raw brutality and we are euphoric, exhausted and completely humbled to get both teams to France.”

The amount raised for The Light Fund via JustGiving currently stands at over £202,000.

You can donate by clicking here.

A full report on the challenge will follow on LicensingSource.net, but for now you can check out some photos below.

Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow @LicensingSource on Twitter and @licensing_source on Instagram.

MORE NEWS
LFRD24500x500
 
Licensing for Retail Day survey highlights retailers most excited to work with toy/preschool/kidult brands in 2024; Customer acquisition and loyalty, plus diversification viewed as biggest benefits....
MMixlings500x500
 
Under the three-year contract, Sambro will support the expansion of the Magic Mixies universe with the creation of a compact range of new novelty products....
MarvelWeetabix500x500
 
Weetabix has teamed with Marvel on a new family-focused collaboration with the aim of promoting healthier snacking for kids....
Sandersonlogo500x500
 
The luxury interior design and furnishings group is to move its head office later this year to West London to a listed building that opened in 1902 as a wallpaper factory for Arthur Sanderson & Sons, the forerunner of the Sanderson brand....
EdStaffordOlpro500x500
 
In a new venture into extreme outdoor exploration, Brandgenuity has brokered a deal between adventurer Ed Stafford and B-Corp certified camping brand, OLPRO....
CardzoneClintons500x500
 
The greeting cards industry has reacted positively to the acquisition of Clintons by Pillarbox Designs, the parent company of Cardzone....
Get the latest news sent to your inbox
Subscribe to our daily newsletter

The list doesn't exist! Make sure you have imported the list on the 'Manage List Forms' page.