TWO girls who were educated in Haslemere swam more than 1.3 miles across the Solent to a music festival on the Isle of Wight, in aid of charity.

Friends Isabella Hitchcock and Lucy Jenner who grew up together, raised over £1,000 each by swimming across one of the UK’s busiest shipping routes to last month’s Bestival, in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

A total of 25 swimmers completed the Swim2Bestival challenge and made it onto the Bestival stage to collect their medals.

Lucy told The Herald: “Bestival 2015 was definitely one to remember for both of us and we would recommend Swim2Bestival to anyone looking for a tough – but enjoyable – challenge, that can most importantly raise a lot of money for charity.”

The girls, now both 21, learned to swim together in Haslemere, and both attended St Ives prep school where they swam for successful medley and freestyle relay teams.

Lucy said: “Music festivals have been a part of our childhood growing up together, and we have some great memories of Bestival together a couple of years ago.

“We thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate our achievements while being a great event to raise as much awareness and support of the charities – and a way to avoid the ferry queues!”

But with the tide changing and a cargo ship passing close by, the swim took one hour and 15 mins altogether.

“Fortunately every swimmer had a supporting kayak that kept us swimming in correct direction.

“We realised quite how important some direction would be while training, when between us we got so disorientated that one of us swam in a complete circle and the other right onto the beach.

“The kayakers were key to our completion as they adapted our routes to compensate for the current and ensured that we both made it, despite swimming far further than the set 1.3 miles.

“After one hour and 15 minutes of seeing nothing but the murky water and the kayak guiding us, not even a glimpse of each other, we finally both set foot on the Isle of Wight greeted by the cheers of our supporters.

“Surprisingly the day was beautifully sunny and the Swim2Bestival team had organised a great celebration with live music, food and drink at our finishing point before the true celebrations at Bestival began,” said Lucy.

Isabella Hitchcock has raised £975 so far, £1,188.75 with Gift Aid and Lucy Jenner has raised £1,365 so far with £1648.75 with Gift Aid - but their fundraising pages are still open online for another month.

All of the money received by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) helps to raise awareness of the risk of sudden cardiac death – which hits young people, who often appear fit and healthy – and helps research, screening and bereavement support.

Money raised for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity funds pioneering work in cancer research, diagnosis, treatment and care to improve the lives of patients at The Royal Marsden and people with cancer throughout the UK.

In addition, 30 per cent of all the money raised by Swim2Bestival will go to Ocean Youth Trust South, who use sailing as a personal development opportunity for young people aged 12-25. Swim2Bestival has been running for the past eight years and raised more than £63,000 for different charities, growing in popularity each year.

Lucy added: “We would like to thank both the Haslemere Herons and West Wittering Beach for allowing us to train for free and the Swim2Bestival team for organising such a great event that raises so much money every year for such fantastic causes.”

To donate go to www.virginmoneygiving. com/team/SwimBestivalbuds or www.virgin moneygiving. com/IsabellaHitchcock