Adele Has Done it!
Bristol swimmer completes 14-hour Bristol Channel crossing to raise funds for disability inclusion organisation
Bristol-based ultra-marathon swimmer Adele Benson has completed a gruelling 14-hour 20-minute swim across the Bristol Channel, raising funds for disability inclusion charity Toucan Diversity.
Adele, who previously completed a solo English Channel swim in 2024, took on the Bristol Channel this September as a fundraising challenge for Toucan Diversity.
The swim covered approximately 16 miles, although the distance a swimmer actually travels can be considerably greater because of the Bristol Channel’s powerful tides. The Channel has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, meaning swimmers can be pushed significantly off course and must work with the changing tides to make progress.
For Adele, the challenge was as much mental as physical.
“I’ve done some big swims before, but this was one of the hardest mentally,” said Adele. “The first few hours were really choppy and uncomfortable for the boat, but I absolutely loved being in the sea. That was the bit where I thought, ‘Yep, this is where I belong.’”
The swim became increasingly difficult as the hours passed. Adele encountered jellyfish in the dark, murky water, with some getting caught inside her swimming costume, and at one point she began to doubt whether she would be able to finish.
Eventually, after more than 14 hours in the water, Adele reached the Devon coastline. But even then, the finish wasn’t quite as straightforward as expected.
“I got onto this really steep beach covered in these horrible, smooth, unstable stones and couldn’t hear the finish horn,” she said. “So I wasn’t actually sure if I’d finished. I had to swim back out to the boat because it couldn’t get close enough to the beach.”
Despite the difficult final stages, Adele completed the crossing in 14 hours and 20 minutes.
The swim follows a series of long-distance open-water challenges for Adele, including her successful English Channel crossing in June 2024, which took 15 hours and 13 minutes. She has also completed major swims in locations including Windermere, Lake Annecy, the Gdynia–Hel route between Poland and the Hel Peninsula, and the 31km UltraEbre swim in Spain.
However, the Bristol Channel swim was about more than adding another achievement to the list.
Adele chose to raise money for Toucan Diversity, a charity working to improve inclusion and accessibility for disabled people.
“I wanted this swim to have a purpose beyond just me wanting to swim across another bit of sea,” said Adele. “Toucan Diversity does brilliant work around disability inclusion, and I’m really pleased that I could use something I’m passionate about to help raise money and awareness for them in memory of Madissa, who co-founded the organisation”.
Adele documented her training and the challenge through her social media channels, where she shares the realities of long-distance swimming alongside the less glamorous side of endurance sport.
The fundraising campaign remains open, with donations supporting Toucan Diversity.
ENDS
About Adele Benson
Adele Benson is a Bristol-based ultra-marathon open-water swimmer, content creator, speaker and writer. She took up swimming as an adult and has since completed some of the UK’s and Europe’s longest open-water challenges, including a solo English Channel crossing in 2024.
Through her social media platforms, Adele shares the realities of endurance swimming, with a particular focus on making open-water swimming feel accessible and relatable to people who may not see themselves as traditional athletes.
Media enquiries
Adele Benson
Instagram: @swimmingadele
Email: adele@adelebenson.co.uk
Phone: 07476897878
Fundraiser: https://givestar.io/gs/bristol-channel-swim
Toucan Diversity: https://toucan-diversity.org.uk/
More About Adele’s Story
My name is Adele Benson. I was born in London, grew up in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, and now live in Bristol with my fiancé Josh and our cat, Caspian.
I work full-time as a Campaigns Manager in the conservation sector, specialising in advocacy campaigns that aim to change systems and influence decision-makers. Alongside my professional work, endurance swimming has become a defining part of my life.
Following the pandemic, I found myself moving back in with my parents after completing my Master’s degree. That period became a wake-up call. I realised I wanted to find fulfilment and purpose beyond full-time work alone, and I turned to sport as a way to challenge myself, build resilience, and set meaningful goals.
I began swimming and strength training regularly, setting myself progressive targets through organised events. When I built up to my first major swim – the length of Windermere – I realised it was half the distance of the English Channel. That simple fact sparked a question I couldn’t shake: what if?
In June 2024, I successfully swam the English Channel in 15 hours and 13 minutes. Since then, I have completed a number of other long-distance and marathon swims, including:
- Length of Windermere, Lake District
- Coniston two-way, Lake District
- Ullswater, Lake District
- Lake Annecy, France
- Gdynia to Hel, Poland
- Escape from Flat Holm Island, Bristol Channel
- Round Jersey Relay
These swims have reinforced my belief in setting ambitious goals, backing yourself when things feel uncomfortable, and using sport as a platform for positive change.
Why Toucan Diversity
My involvement with Toucan Diversity began while I was studying at the University of Portsmouth. As a member of the Rotaract society, I was offered the opportunity to take part in disability equality training. During that session, I was lucky enough to be seated next to Paul Smith OBE, Toucan Diversity Ambassador.
This understanding came from my own experiences: seeing how my grandmother and cousin were treated, and witnessing my aunt having to take the local council to court simply to secure a school place that could meet my cousin Eleanor’s needs.
I was also deeply inspired by Paul’s own fundraising challenges and his commitment to causes he believes in. That combination of personal experience and inspiration led me to start volunteering with Toucan Diversity as a Trustee and fundraiser.
Through Toucan, I also met Madissa, the charity’s founder, who sadly passed away in October 2020. Her vision continues to shape the organisation’s work and values.
I firmly believe that for most people, it is not if you become disabled, but when. Disability touches all of our lives – through ageing, illness, accident, or injury. Many of the adaptations that improve life for disabled people benefit everyone, from step-free access and captioning to everyday innovations like the electric toothbrush.
I have seen first-hand how hard disabled people – including members of my family, friends, and colleagues – have had to work simply to exist in spaces that were not designed with them in mind. Toucan Diversity’s approach works because it focuses on changing systems rather than individuals. By using the social model of disability, Toucan empowers people, educates organisations, and removes barriers to full participation.
That is why I am proud to support Toucan Diversity through this swim.
