In August, two septuagenarians from Primrose Hill, Lucy Sheppard and Alison Kemp, swam across to the Isle of Wight to raise money for a friend’s daughter who had broken her back in a cycling accident, leaving her in a wheelchair.

Lucy trained beforehand by swimming from Neves to St Kitts in the Caribbean, and in the Strait of Corryvrecken in Scotland, home to the third largest whirlpool in the world, which features in the film I Know Where I’m Going! Closer to home, if somewhat less hazardous, she swam in the Serpentine and Kentish Town Baths.

The two friends began the challenge at Stokes Bay in Hampshire and finished at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. They had to negotiate ferries, hovercraft and pleasure boats in the Solent and Lucy admitted to being ‘sick with nerves’ beforehand. However, they successfully completed the swim in an impressive two hours and five minutes.

At the time of going to press, they have raised over £5,500 for the charity Aspire, which helps people who have been paralysed by spinal cord injuries. They want to raise as much money as they can to help their friend’s daughter and other people who suffer such life-changing injuries.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucyalison