A 70-year old retired breast cancer surgeon who swam in July’s ASA SW Region Open Water Competition at Weymouth is preparing to become the oldest person to swim the English Channel in August.

Roger Allsopp will start his record breaking swim on 23/24 August 2011, hoping to raise £750,000 for the purchase of cutting edge cancer research medical equipment at the University of Southampton.

Allsopp is no stranger to pushing his body to the limit, having run the London Marathon 10 years ago and completed a successful Channel crossing in 2006.

Ann and Tom McGrath and Dee Taylor can feel very proud of swimming in excess of 35 miles in their valiant attempt to swim the English Channel.

“No-one can really prepare you for what it’s really like out there, especially when it’s lumpy and then the wind and tide turn against you and you’re already exhausted.

“Thanks to all of you for supporting us. We felt it on the day.”

Marcus Wadsworth and Stephen have successfully swum the Channel in 14 hours 29 minutes, with support from their invaluable crew, Scarlett and Ian.

Their swim is in aid of raising money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

“It was a tough week waiting to swim with the weather being terrible but the first chance we had, we were in the water.” said East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club member Marcus. “Thanks to everyone who has donated. With your help we have raised just under £700 for such a worthy cause.”

Ann and Thomas McGrath would like to thank all who attended and donated to the charity non-wetsuit evening at EDOWSC on 9 August 2011:

“It was a lovely evening with a superb table of food and wine. To all those who left their comfort blanket at home, I am proud of you all for joining in the fun and trembling afterwards. Watching the wine jump out of the cups was quite entertaining!

“But on a more serious note a big THANK YOU for the generous donations. A total of £107 was received for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Many thanks to everyone for their support”

In this video, Kate Vines and Justine Drury discuss how they are preparing for their Channel swim in July 2011 and the importance of the Big Splash campaign to get the nation swimming.

View 2m 29s video introduction on 2010 ISHOF Induction of Kevin Murphy (www.ishof.org) - flashplayer required.

Sponsored swim 29 Jan 2011 - Canford Pool in aid of The Juli Spendley Foundation

3 teams will be swimming the entire distance if the Channel. More teams are welcome.

This film was put together by Miguel from FILM NOVA from various film clips and photos from Colin Hill’s crossing in 2009. The Channel Swim from England to France took him 10 hrs 30 mins.

Colin said “Funny how often I mention it was a ‘hard swim’ at the end, as my memory has mellowed the whole experience”.

Lance Oram from CS & PF piloted the support boat.

Club member Ann McGrath is training for a 2-way Channel Swim relay challenge from 1 to 8 Aug 2010.

Celebrated director Philippe Lioret’s award-winning new drama WELCOME is a compassionate and inspiring story about the hope of new beginnings and the power of love, centring on two couples contending with issues of separation and dislocation.

17-year-old Bilal has spent three months travelling across Europe, in an attempt to reunite with his girlfriend Mina, who has moved with her family to London. The long journey is almost over when he finally reaches the coast of France; the English channel is his last obstacle.