Channel Team Wassenaar (CTW) was founded by Hans van Veen in the spring of 2009. Hans, who was always doing a lot of sports, needed a new challenge. The idea of swimming The Channel came to him when he was watching a documentary about it.
He discussed the idea of swimming The Channel with his (Triathlon) friends and created a team. He also discussed his idea with his swim coach Joop van Eijk who brought him into contact with Richard Broer. Richard is a very experienced long distance swimmer, coach of the team and liaison with the Channel Swimming Association. The plan to swim The Channel in September 2011 was born. 

In the previous year, during the fall of 2008 Hans had lost his niece to a very aggressive form of Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. She was only 11. Hans wanted to do something against this very unfair disease. Therefore, Hans would like to raise money for the Willem Alexander Kinderfonds (WAKF - Willem Alexander Children Foundation) with this swimming challenge. The WAKF sponsors the scientific research program of Dr. Arjan Lankester who develops new treatments against Acute Lymphatic Leukemia.

With those two goals the team started training in the spring of 2009. During the first year the main goal was to see how good the team members could swim. Therefore, the team started training at sea (De Wassenaarse Slag) and did several performance swims. At the end of the season the team swam in relay from Stavoren to Medemblik (22 km). For the team, this successful event was the signal to go ahead with the challenge.

After training during the fall and winter, the team organised a kick-off event in the spring of 2010. During this kick-off, the team gave a presentation to potential sponsors to show what was achieved so far. Dr. Lankester presented his research and the team did a presentation about "How to sponsor". During the summer season the team again did a lot of training at sea, lakes, rivers and channels. At the end of the season the team did a test at night, with low temperatures, rain and waves from Lelystad to Marken and back again (47 km). After this test 6 of the team members qualified (a complete team) to swim The Channel next year.

The next fall and winter will of course be spent on training, but most importantly: on finding sponsors. If you think you would like to sponsor us, please feel free to contact us via: 

info@channelteamwassenaar.nl