A TEAM of swimmers are set to splash out in aid of hospice care when they cover the distance of English Channel.

The Pendleside Paddlers, Chris Wallace, Paul Emmott, John Wri, Lauren Wilkinson, Jo Brown and Kristian Cavanagh are taking part in an event called Swim the English Channel Up North, which takes place on June 20 at Boundary Water Park in Cheshire.

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The event, which will raise money for Pendleside Hospice, is a relay swim of 22miles (36km) – so each member of the team will swim 6km.

Three of the team can wear wetsuits, but the other three will have to do the swim in trunks and costumes only.

The marathon event starts on Saturday evening and the team will swim through the night and finish sometime on Sunday.

The organiser of the endurance team is Chris Wallace, 54, of Kibble Crescent, Burnley.

He said the team members all met through swimming clubs in the area.

He said: “We’re all members of the Swimjets club which meets at the St Peter’s Centre in Burnley and are all keen open water swimmers.

“We saw this event and thought it would be the perfect way to challenge ourselves.

“I’ve been at the club for around ten years and it is led by Brian Crossley, who is a fantastic coach.

“I think all the team love open water swimming and I did the Great North Swim at Windermere last year.

“It’s perfect exercise and I find endurance swimming very fulfilling.

“We would like to raise as much money as possible for Pendleside Hospice.

“It’s a fantastic place which does a great job for the people of Burnley and Pendle. It costs over £3.8 million a year to run – so we’re hoping to make a small contribution.”

To sponsor the team please visit – https://www.justgiving.com/pendlesideswim