Charity swimming challenges returns for fifth year - Jersey Evening Post
by Daisy Morel · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
Charity swimming challenges returns for fifth year
by Daisy Morel 7 August 20267 August 2026
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CHANNEL waters will be filled with swimmers this weekend as a charity fundraiser returns.
Now in its fifth year, the Jersey – France Challenge see swimmers take on a 14-mile relay swim from Jersey to Normandy with more than 100 participants, skippers and support crews coming together to raise money for Dementia Jersey.
The event has become a significant fixture in the open-water swimming calendar – attracting teams from Jersey, Australia, France, and Spain.
A total of 16 teams are due to take part in this year’s challenge, including wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers and four water polo teams – one of which is an all-female team.
Event founder Simon O’Donoghue said: “What began in 2015 as an idea between friends has grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined.
“That first charity swim sparked a movement, and now, more than a decade later, we’re welcoming swimmers from around the world to take on a world-class challenge for a deeply personal cause.”
The event originated as relay events and Sark-to-Jersey crossings before changing to the Jersey-to-France route in 2021.
More than £14,000 has been raised already this year, and donations continue to increase ahead of tomorrow’s event – which was recently covered by Spanish national television.
Teams will swim one-hour relay legs under official Jersey and French open-water safety regulations, supported by escort crews.
The challenge is supported by lead sponsors Dickinson Gleeson and Kroll.
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