Community team targets major open-water challenge for hospice care
A group of open-water swimmers from across the Thames Valley and West London will attempt a relay crossing of the English Channel in August to raise £39,000 in support of Thames Hospice, which provides palliative and end‑of‑life care across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire. The seven-person team, who swim under the name the Thames Sea Lions, includes a participant from Slough and aims to turn months of training into tangible support for local patients and families.
The swimmers — drawn from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and West London — have built their effort around a shared commitment to the hospice’s work in the community. The challenge is being attempted as a relay, with each member taking turns in the water as conditions allow. Their fundraising target has been set at £39,000, with all proceeds intended to back the hospice’s services for people with life-limiting illnesses.
How the team came together
Team member Lillian Savage, from Cookham, described how the group formed through regular dips at a local lake before setting their sights on one of open water’s most demanding undertakings.
“What started as a group of people meeting for swims at Taplow Lake has grown into a close-knit swimming family. The Channel is one of the toughest challenges any swimmer can undertake but knowing we're doing it for Thames Hospice gives every training session a purpose.”
Alongside Savage, the Thames Sea Lions bring together swimmers from multiple local communities, reflecting how the hospice’s catchment spans county boundaries and serves residents in towns and villages across the area.
The swimmers and where they are from
| Team member | Home area |
|---|---|
| Suzi McNulty | Taplow |
| Jane Barnard | Taplow |
| Lillian Savage | Cookham |
| Heidi Needham | Bracknell |
| Cathy Miller | Chalfont St Peter |
| Jo Kelly | Slough |
| Darren Hourican | Ruislip |
The inclusion of swimmer Jo Kelly from Slough gives the borough a direct link to the challenge, which aims to channel local backing into essential hospice services delivered just beyond the town’s borders and across the wider region.
Why the fundraising matters
Thames Hospice provides specialist care and support for people living with advanced illnesses, as well as practical and emotional help for their loved ones. The organisation’s work spans clinical settings and community-based services. The swimmers’ target of £39,000 is intended to bolster these programmes for residents in East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire, where demand for palliative care is ongoing throughout the year.
- Purpose: Raise funds to sustain palliative and end‑of‑life services delivered by Thames Hospice.
- Timing: Channel relay attempt scheduled for August.
- Team: Seven swimmers from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and West London, including one from Slough.
Local impact and how residents can support
For communities in and around Slough, the Channel effort is a chance to back a service used by families across the area. While intensive training and logistics sit with the team, the outcome depends on public support to reach the £39,000 fundraising goal. Residents who wish to help can follow the team’s progress and contribute through the swimmers’ stated fundraising channels. Any contribution assists the hospice in continuing to provide care for patients and families facing serious illness.
The Thames Sea Lions say the camaraderie forged at Taplow Lake has underpinned their preparation for the crossing and sharpened their focus on the cause. The group argues that the prospect of choppy seas and shifting conditions is balanced by the knowledge that each mile swum can translate into practical support for those who need it most.
As the team approaches their August window, attention now turns to making the attempt safely and effectively. The swimmers are seeking to convert months of training into donations that will support frontline care in East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire — a goal that many across Slough and the surrounding area will recognise as close to home.
