Spinal injury charity Aspire is giving swimmers a rare chance to secure a lane at the specialist Aspire Leisure Centre in Stanmore, London, for a 15-hour session to attempt a Channel Swim distance in the pool.
The pool will be open from 14:00 GMT on Sunday, November 9, 2025, to 05:00 on Monday, November 10, 2025, for a strictly limited number of people to swim 22 miles – the distance of the English Channel – in one go.
Swimmers will have exclusive use of the Aspire pool, lifeguards, and access to nutrition for a solid 15 hours of swimming.
The Aspire Channel Swim Ultra is a unique event, and places are strictly limited. There is no fee to enter, but Aspire, which is a leading national UK charity that provides practical support to people paralysed by spinal cord injury, is requesting a pledge to raise at least £750 per person to support its work.
Aspire has a strong connection with swimming, and in particular Channel swimming. It has run a Virtual Channel Swim since 1999, and since 2009 it has been involved in open water swimming in the charity sector, facilitating many fundraising swims such as Channel Relays and Solent swims.
Paul Parrish, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Aspire, said “One of the frustrations of training for long distance swimming is gaining access to a swimming pool for long sessions.
“This ultra swim is not only a challenge in itself but could also be part of longer training program. If you harbour any dreams of soloing the Channel this is the opportunity to test yourself.”
Those interested in signing up for the Aspire Channel Swim Ultra on November 9, 2025, can get in touch with the charity to find out more.
