Four women from northwest Wisconsin have traveled across the pond for the biggest swim of their lives.

Jen Titus, Michele DeYoung, Pamela Toshner, and Lisa Weispfenning plan on swimming across the English Channel. They want to be the first female team from Wisconsin to do so.

They call themselves the WisconSWIM Mermaids.

“We feel fantastic, and shockingly calm,” shared Michele on Monday before they left.

Jen added, “Our main goal is to complete it successfully. With no one injured and no one sick.”

They’ve been training for years, as the swim is very challenging. It’s 26 miles, split up in relay style, with the women swimming for one hour increments at a time. They can’t wear wetsuits.

“The last few swims in Lake Superior have mimicked the exact conditions of the Channel,” shared Michele.

It started as Michele’s dream, since her mother was from England.

The Mermaids are grateful for all the support they’ve been feeling from their communities.

The Mermaids could start as soon as Saturday. To follow their progress: https://www.facebook.com/wisconSWIMmermaids

They also have a GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/svb3tw-english-channel-crossing?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer