Paul Mason and Becky Simmons are heading for the English Channel and plan to swim across it to raise money for Hope for Guernsey. With them is Martin Budge of Guernsey Glass, one of their sponsors. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0837859)

TWO swimmers are setting off today on their first step in attempting the “Everest of swimming” – the English Channel.

Becky Simmons, 45, and Paul Mason, 42, have been preparing for nearly two years.

They have raised more than £15,000 in sponsorship for Hope for Guernsey through bring-and-buy sales, dances, discos and selling charity wristbands. By the end of the swim, they hope to have raised more than £20,000.

The pair have been swimming every day, ranging from short dips in Havelet Bay to long-distance practices along the south coast.

Mrs Simmons has swum off Guernsey all her life but began sea swimming regularly only a few years ago. She thought she was ready for the challenge.

‘We have had a lot of support,’ she said. ‘We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.’

Mr Mason has been swimming off the Channel Islands for 20 years. He has swum between Guernsey and Alderney, but anticipated this would be his toughest challenge yet.

‘I am really looking forward to it,’ he said.

‘It is the Everest of swimming. It will be tough physically and mentally.’

They estimated it would take between 10 and 12 hours to complete the 29-mile swim.