Smiles and enthusiasm define the eight young swimmers who are members of the group Pastra Cretonaxiosa. Their goal is to swim across the English channel on Monday, August 29. They will start their 45-km sea crossing from Dover and will swim in low temperatures, through difficult sea currents and at night.
While testing their strength and endurance in the difficult swimming challenge, they will also be raising money to provide school buses for the Greek Association for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Handicapped People.
The idea is the brainchild of three close friends and amateur swimmers – Evgenia, Vangelis and Vassilis.
While the event was conceived in 2013 it took three years in the planning. It was when Sotiris Pastras was added to the group as its coach that they gradually transformed into a tight-knit team named “Pastra Cretonaxiosa.” Last year, numbering eight, they crossed the Bosporus in July 2015.
The swimming challenge across the English channel was initially planned for Sunday, August 28, however, it was postponed for a day due to the prevailing weather conditions.
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