A team of six dedicated swimmers from across the Fylde has completed a gruelling 24-hour relay swim, equivalent to swimming the English Channel and back, raising £9,359 for their local children's hospice, Derian House.
Calling themselves 'The LapPack', the team – David Mason, Adam Taylor, Adam Gregson, Dan Green, Jack McGuinness and Michelle Tickle – began the challenge at 6am on Friday, June 5, swimming until the early hours of Saturday morning at Ribby Hall Village near Wrea Green. Taking turns in the water around the clock, the six swimmers kept the relay afloat for a full 24 hours, battling fatigue, aching muscles, and sleep deprivation to raise vital funds for the hospice, which supports more than 400 children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, every year. The team, who have built strong friendships through their regular early-morning swims at Ribby Hall Village, wanted to put their miles in the pool to good use by raising money for a charity close to home.
Team Spirit and Determination
“It was incredibly tough, both physically and mentally, especially as the hours went on and fatigue started to set in,” said Michelle Tickle, of Kirkham. “Getting back into the water became harder with every hour. What felt manageable during the day became much colder overnight and into the early morning. And to top it all off, I had a flight to catch to Florida just hours later!
“The team spirit was amazing throughout. It kept us all going, and we had a few laughs along the way. Everyone encouraged each other, and knowing we were raising money for such an important cause kept us motivated when things became difficult.
“In the last leg of the challenge, during Jack’s final swim, we all joined him for the final two lengths. That was a special moment for all of us and brought the event to a fitting close. We then celebrated with a boomerang jump at the end! I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share this challenge with. And I want to say thank you so much to everyone who donated, we couldn’t have done it without you all.”
Personal Motivation
“This was an incredibly difficult challenge, and we all really began to feel it around the 20 hour mark,” said David Mason, 62, of Wrea Green. “I had the idea during a swim one morning. I wanted to do something to support Derian House, as I’ve been familiar with the hospice and what it does for its families for over 20 years.
“It wasn’t an easy challenge – it was the camaraderie of our team that got us through the night. We had snacks on hand to fuel us through the night, particularly for me it was chicken and Haribo. Everybody was getting plenty of electrolytes and carbs.
“Before the challenge, the team took a look around the hospice and everyone fell in love with the place. Everyone there is smiling, there’s a tremendous atmosphere. I take my hat off to everyone at Derian House. Not many people know that the hospice relies on fundraisers to survive, so that it can continue to support local families.”
Hospice Gratitude
Kerry Salmon, Community Fundraiser at Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “The LapPack really made a splash for Derian House. To swim through the day and night while raising more than £9,000 is an outstanding achievement. Every pound raised will help us continue providing care and support to local children and families.
“Care is free for families at Derian House, but it will cost £6 million to run services in 2026, with only around 30 per cent funded by the government. We couldn’t do what we do without supporters like these.”
Derian House, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West, helping them to make the most of every moment.
