Staff are taking on the challenge of swimming the same distance from the UK to France - a total of 1,352 lengths of a standard 25 metre pool - between June 19th and July 1st to help send a family on a VIP weekend to London or Disneyland Paris.

The team wants to raise between £1,000 and £3,500 for our chosen charity for 2023, When You Wish Upon a Star, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. Funds raised will sponsor a much-needed trip away for a child and their family as part of a wish programme run by the charity.

David Harvey, Branch Manager for Chippenham and Gloucester at Acorn by Synergie, says: “When You Wish Upon A Star is such a great cause and I felt they deserved a really great challenge to support them. With the parent company of Acorn by Synergie, the Synergie group, being based in France, there seemed no better way to unite our team and raise money for this excellent cause at the same time than swimming the channel, therefore.”

So far, Acorn by Synergie has raised over £1000 for When You Wish Upon a Star and aims to bring that total to £10,000 for the cause throughout 2023 with a range of initiatives that include its cross-channel swim challenge, a charity golf tournament and more.

Bernard Ward, Managing Director of Acorn by Synergie, says: “Our goal for 2023 is to continue raising as much money as we can and help make wishes come true for as many children as possible, therefore, through the amazing support services When You Wish Upon A Star provides to young people and families who are otherwise facing some really tough challenges in life.”