Two siblings, one big challenge: Zach and Ruby’s English Channel journey

Zach and Ruby Tkaczyk, siblings from Cheshire aged 15 and 13, are taking on one of the toughest challenges of their young lives: swimming the English Channel as part of a relay team to raise money for Mencap. They share their story…

Swimming has become much more than a sport for us. It has taught us resilience, confidence, discipline, and the importance of never giving up, even when things feel difficult. The challenge of swimming the English Channel seemed almost impossible when we first heard about it, but that’s exactly why we wanted to be involved.

We’re very different people, but we both share a love of being in the water.

Ruby, who is 13, is neurodivergent and has faced challenges that many people don’t always see. Swimming has given her confidence, structure, and a place where she feels free to be herself. In the water, there are no labels, no expectations, and no limits. It has become somewhere she can focus, reset, and discover what she’s capable of achieving. Every training session and every length completed is another reminder that determination and resilience can overcome obstacles. For Ruby, taking part in the English Channel relay is about much more than swimming; it’s proof that with support, belief and hard work, extraordinary things are possible.

Zach, aged 15, enjoys challenging himself both physically and mentally. He has a keen interest in psychology and understanding how people think, and one of the things he enjoys most about swimming is the mental side of the sport. Long training sessions teach patience, commitment and the ability to keep going when things become uncomfortable. The Channel challenge appealed to him because it isn’t just about fitness; it’s about mindset and learning to push beyond what you think your limits are.

The opportunity to take part in this challenge came through our amazing school, Beech Hall School in Macclesfield. We genuinely cannot speak highly enough of the school and the opportunities it creates for its students. Beech Hall encourages young people to believe in themselves, try new things and step outside their comfort zones, and this challenge is a perfect example of that.

A special thank you must go to our Headmaster, Mr Allen, whose enthusiasm, encouragement, and belief in the students have helped make opportunities like this possible. His leadership has helped create a school culture where young people are encouraged to dream big and pursue challenges that help them grow both inside and outside the classroom.

We’re also incredibly grateful to our swim coaches, Nikki and Cate, who have invested huge amounts of time, energy, and expertise into preparing us for this challenge. They have guided us through training, encouraged us when sessions have been tough and helped us develop as swimmers. The Channel relay simply wouldn’t be possible without their dedication and support. We would also like to thank our fitness coaches, Julie and Emily, whose support, encouragement, and training have helped us build the strength and endurance needed for this challenge.

Of course, this challenge is much bigger than just the two of us. There is an entire team of students, staff, families, volunteers, and supporters working together to make it happen. Everyone involved has played a part, whether that’s organising training sessions, providing encouragement, fundraising, or simply cheering us on when we’ve needed it most.

Training has become a big part of our lives. There are early mornings, long pool sessions, and plenty of moments when we’d rather stay warm in bed. Yet every swim takes us one step closer to our goal. Some sessions feel fantastic, while others remind us that progress comes from consistency rather than perfection. Learning to keep turning up, even when motivation is low, has been one of the biggest lessons of the entire journey.

One of the things we’ve enjoyed most is the support from friends, family, teachers, and fellow swimmers. The swimming community is incredibly welcoming, and we’ve been inspired by how many people genuinely want to see others succeed. That support makes a huge difference when the training gets tough.

Swimming gives us both a sense of freedom. When you’re in the water, everyday worries seem to disappear. You focus on your breathing, your technique, and the distance ahead. It teaches you to be present, calm and determined all at the same time.

We’re taking on this challenge to raise money for Mencap, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and their families. It’s a cause that means a great deal to us, and knowing that our efforts can help others gives every training session an even greater purpose.

Looking ahead, we hope this is only the beginning of our swimming journey. The English Channel relay is a huge goal, but it has also inspired us to think about what adventures might come next. More than anything, we hope our story encourages other young people to challenge themselves, believe in their abilities and discover what they can achieve when they commit to something that matters.

The English Channel has been described as one of the world’s great swimming challenges. We know it won’t be easy, but that’s exactly what makes it worthwhile. We can’t wait to stand on the shoreline with our teammates, look out across the water and know that together we’ve earned our place there.

If you would like to support our challenge and help us raise money for Mencap, you can visit our fundraising page.

Thank you for supporting us and following our journey. We hope to make everyone at Beech Hall, our coaches, our families, and our supporters proud when we take our first strokes towards France.

Donate to Zach and Ruby’s fundraiser for Mencap