In August 2017 I will be swimming solo from Dover, UK to Calais, France across the “Everest of ocean swims” and busiest shipping lane in the world – the English Channel. I turned to ocean swimming after being diagnosed with postnatal depression after the birth of my beautiful third child, and it has been instrumental in aiding my recovery. Hence I would like to utilise my Channel Challenge to raise funds for an organisation very close to my heart – Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA). PANDA provides a vital service in Australia by offering the only specialist national perinatal mental health telephone counseling service, as well as reducing stigma around perinatal anxiety and depression, and providing education services to health professionals and the wider community. At its shortest point, the route is 33.3km (20.7mi) but due to large tidal shifts and currents it’s most likely that I’ll be swimming between 40km – 50km. With the water temperature likely to be 16 degrees, it’s estimated to take me 14 – 16 hours. Official Channel swimming rules state I cannot touch another human, boat, or support vessel during the length of the swim. My training regime over the past three years has been rigorous, with daily pool swims, weekly ocean swims and attending cold-water camps. Please support me as I take on this ultra-marathon and help raise much-needed funds for this great cause. You can follow my progress in the lead up to, and during the challenge at: Facebook.com/EnglishChannelSwim Thank you, Rachelle x