Imogen and Matilda Meers are committing to a so-called dip a day throughout January alongside their relay teammates. The challenge involves daily cold water exposure to help them adapt to harsh sea conditions.
Their training has included cold showers, lake swims, snow angels and being sprayed with a hose. The sisters say the aim is to build tolerance to freezing temperatures and mental resilience.
The pair are raising money for SwimTayka, a charity that teaches children in waterside communities how to swim and stay safe in open water. The organisation operates in countries including Brazil, Peru and Bali, and is launching a new programme in the UK this year.
SwimTayka funds its work through sponsored English Channel relay swims held each summer. Teams of five or six swimmers take turns to swim for around an hour while crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Training for a Channel crossing involves more than physical endurance. Swimmers must also prepare mentally for cold water, jellyfish, fatigue and unpredictable sea conditions.
Imogen and Matilda, who are organic farmers, decided to take on the challenge in memory of their father, Alex Meers. He died twenty years ago from leukaemia.
Imogen said: “Swimming the English Channel has been a dream of ours since we were young. We hope one day to complete it solo, but this summer we are thrilled to start the journey as part of a relay team, and to do it for such an incredible charity, SwimTayka.
“Our preparation has already begun with trips away with the relay team, daily cold swims and squad training.”
Matilda added: “Our Dad was our biggest supporter in all of our swimming endeavours and had hoped that one day we would make it to the Olympics.
“While the Olympics may not have happened, we believe this is the next best thing and he would be so proud of knowing what we are setting our ambitions towards.”
More information about SwimTayka and its English Channel relay swims is available at www.swimtayka.org
Donations to support Imogen and Matilda can be made at www.justgiving.com/page/channelswim2026
