Sonia Dykstra and Wendy Williams of Wilmslow United Reformed Church took on the challenge of swimming the 22 mile width of the English Channel to raise money for The Oasis Centre in Gorton.
Rather than brave murderous jelly fish and passing oil tankers in the sea, they have clocked up their miles by regular visits to Wilmslow swimming baths during June with a triumphant finish on reaching the English coast at 2pm on 29th June before an excited crowd of onlookers and well-wishers in Wilmslow.
After a rest and a cup of tea their husbands took them out for a celebratory meal. Careful not to show any bias to either Britain or France, they went to an Italian restaurant.
The Oasis Centre is in Gorton, one of the most socially deprived areas in the country. The Centre serves the homeless, ex-offenders, refugees, victims of abuse, people with debt problems, low skills and people with physical and mental health problems.
Sonia and Wendy aimed to raise £1,000 and have already exceeded that target, with donations still rolling in to a total currently over £2,500. If you would like to acknowledge the efforts if these two feisty ladies by supporting The Oasis Centre please visit their JustGiving page.
Any readers who know either Sonia or Wendy may have been astonished at them being described as septuagenarians: it's true, they both qualify - but only just!
Guest post by Derek Torrington.
