We’re putting on a proper send-off for our mate and business partner Ash — good food, good company, and a chance to back him in something that goes well beyond business or friendship.

Later this year, Ash will take on one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world: a solo swim across the English Channel.

No wetsuit. No music. No boat to lean on. Just a pair of goggles, open water, and 12–16°C of brutal cold. The swim can take anywhere from 10 to 18 hours, depending on tides and weather — and even finishing isn’t guaranteed. It’s a test of physical resilience and mental grit most people will never attempt.

He’s doing it to raise money for the Navy Diver Trust — a quiet, no-frills charity that looks after some of Australia’s most elite but under-recognised veterans: clearance divers.

These are the guys who dismantle explosives underwater, recover bodies, dive in zero visibility, and carry the physical and psychological cost long after the job’s done. The Trust helps with recovery, transition, and crisis support — often stepping in where official systems can’t or won’t.

For the send-off, we’ve covered $500 of food and sorted the venue for free. This fundraiser is to help cover that cost first. Every dollar above that goes directly to Ash’s swim campaign and the Navy Diver Trust.

If you’re coming along, this is how you can chip in. If you can’t make it but want to back something meaningful, it’s appreciated.

Let’s give Ash a proper send-off — and help power his swim with something stronger than adrenaline.