Swimmers Ben Cusack and Kate Doison are embarking on an epic fundraising endurance swim - 24 miles in 24 hours.

Kate said they’ll be swimming a mile - 64 lengths of a 25m pool - every hour on the hour, from March 18 to 19 at Dartmouth Leisure Centre.

She said: “We plan to keep doing this for 24 hours – we’re wondering what we’ve let ourselves in for. By the end, all being well, we’ll have swum further than the English Channel, and probably eaten a lot of Mars Bars!

“The hope is each mile will take around 30 to 40 minutes, giving us what’s left of the hour to eat, drink and stretch out our shoulders before setting off again the following hour.”

Kate and Ben are swimming to raise £1500 for a local community project to bring sea safety and first aid skills to primary school kids.

Coast to Coast Water Safety and Dartmouth Swimming Club are aiming to offer kids the chance to learn water safety and first aid skills free of charge. Pool and beach sessions will include basic water safety skills and knowledge - staying afloat, raising the alarm, identifying beach and water hazards – and wet and dry fun group activities.

While Kate and Ben are swimming their 24 miles other swimmers – individuals and groups – are invited to join in and help raise sponsorship for the project. Challenges include team relays for one hour and 2.5 kilometre swims. Everyone entering will receive a ‘24in24’ swim hat. Those raising £50 or more will get a ‘24in24’ t-shirt, and the most sponsorship raised will receive a DryRobe towel robe.

Ben said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in this challenge and very proud to be able to put my name to the event, raising funds for such a great cause.

“It’s not going to be easy, however, I think we are more than capable and have the determination to complete this swim with a smile at the end. It’d be great to see as many people as possible coming along to support us and encourage us on.”

Kate is a co-founder of Coast to Coast, with her partner Loic. Ben volunteers for Dartmouth Swimming Club and has been competitively swimming for 12 years.

To support Kate and Ben visit