Hackney teens raise over £4,000 for Child Poverty Action Group with English Channel relay swim

Six Hackney teens have raised over £4,000 for Child Poverty Action Group, by swimming 33km in relay across the English Channel.

Amelie Noor brings the team into the Cap Gris Nez after 13 hours and 23 minutes. Picture: Sarah Leipciger - Credit: Sarah Leipciger

Lucy Sims, 13, and Grace Radford, 14, from Clapton Girls Academy, Amelie Noor and Eve Napier, both 13, from Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, Ruby Greer, 14, from Hackney New School and Sasha Vinnicombe, 13, from Morpeth Academy, started out from Dover at 5am on Thursday morning.

Taking it in turns to swim an hour, and not wearing wetsuits, they reached the rocks of Cap Gris Nez in 13 hours and 23 minutes later.

With similar relays swum by strong adult swimmers taking between 10 and 12 hours, the girls, who have been in training for two years, are chuffed with their time.

Eve’s mum Sarah Leipciger said: “They were incredibly strong. We’re all really proud! They are one of the youngest teams to have completed a successful crossing.”

The girls aboard the Viking Princess boat at 4am before departure. From left to right: Lucy Sims, Eve Napier, Amelie Noor, Sasha Vinnicombe, Grace Radford, Ruby Greer. Picture: Sarah Leipciger - Credit: Sarah Leipciger

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