WE ARE writing to ask for the support of locally-based organisations who may consider to help support a (slightly mad) team of ladies to swim the English Channel in August 2011, to raise much-needed funds for CHASE hospice care for children.

This team (whose collective age is 253) have never undertaken such a challenge and, indeed, most of the team are not the fitness types!

However, all six of us are very long term supporters of the vital work that CHASE undertakes in caring for life-limited children and their courageous families through an experience that most of us will never be able to contemplate coping with.

We have reserved our boat, pilot and swim date and are now commencing on a gruelling training programme. This challenge is classified as extreme, but as the team collectively agree, this extreme challenge will never measure up to the challenge the families that CHASE supports have every day.

We have a fundraising target of £50,000 and are committing personal funds into fundraising activities to achieve this promise.

The swim itself and the training requirements will cost in excess of £6,000 and we are seeking the endorsement of six local corporate organisations to support the cost of the challenge, so that the team's financial commitment is focused on raising the ultimate donation goal.

If anyone can help in any way, we would love to hear from you. Please email my team mate Bridget at bridget.turner@chasecare.org.uk.

KATE BAKER AND THE TEAM Ealing