THE daughter of a Milverton woman who has Parkinson’s Disease is set to take part in a swim across the English Channel.

Alison Croughton, 52, who was born in Wellington and attended Court Fields School in the town, will be swimming without a wetsuit as part of a six-person relay team, sometime between September 5 and 12 depending on weather conditions.

Her Touch the Butt team are hoping to raise £1,500 to support the work of Parkinson’s UK.

Alison has been training for the last 18 months and had to complete a two-hour qualification swim in a lake in a water temperature of just 15.8 degrees.

She said inspiration for the team name came from the children’s film Finding Nemo, in which Nemo finds the courage to ‘touch the butt’ of a boat by swimming out into open water.

Alison said: "Swimming the English Channel needs the same courage and determination so the team name seemed rather fitting."

After leaving Court Fields School Alison studied Agricultural Engineering at Somerset College of Arts and Technology.

She moved to Thame in 1986 as a student to continue her studies and still lives there.

She qualified as a civil engineer and eventually became a construction project manager, most recently working for Chiltern Railways for 16 years.

Lily Coombs, regional fundraiser for Parkinson’s UK, said: "We are so grateful to Alison and her team for their efforts to support Parkinson’s UK – this really is an exceptional challenge. As a charity we are reliant on supporters such as Alison to help us bring forward the day where no one fears Parkinson’s.’

Anyone who would like to help Alison reach her fundraising target can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamtouchthebutt

For more information about Parkinson’s UK call 0800 800 0303 or visit parkinsons.org.uk