On the night of June 15 to 16, six intrepid Bude Surf Club members began a challenge that would test them to the limits.

Each had trained for months not knowing for sure that conditions would allow them to start. A one week window is given and only at short notice is the go ahead given.

Starting at 9.16pm Mel Bardsley was the first to lower herself into the water from the boat called ‘Optimist’ to begin swimming the British Channel in relay with Jayney Henwood, Gareth Jeremiah, Graham Taplin, Scott Taylor and Zerran Bell.

Swimming an hour each there is a strict protocol to follow, each changeover had to be within five minutes, the new swimmer entering the water behind the swimmer already in, swim in front of that swimmer and then wait until they were on the boat steps and safely out of the water the official observer from the channel swimming association would then give the go ahead to start swimming.

The observer times each swimmers pace and relays this information to the pilot who uses this to plot the route.

Jayney said: “It was never a given that we would succeed and we had to all keep pushing ourselves, we are all so very proud to have swam for Talan and when we had to dig in deep he was with us.”

The ratified time for the swim was an amazing 15 hours and five minutes.

The challenge, which so far has raised more than £4,000, was all in aid of Talan’s Trust, a local charity set up in memory of a well-known Bude boy.

Sarah Penny, of Talan’s Trust, said: “What an amazing achievement!

“I continue to be amazed by people’s efforts to help us remember Talan to raise funds and awareness of childhood cancer which sadly remains the biggest killer of children in the uk barring trauma.

“Talan was a normal, healthy and active 18 year old when cancer came into our lives.

“We will not stop until everyone knows the symptoms of childhood cancer.”

To find out more about Talan’s Trust visit www.talanstrust.org or on facebook/instagram and get involved.