A GB News viewer is aiming to break a world record as part of the oldest mixed team ever to swim the English Channel.

Calling themselves "457 YEARS", the total of their combined ages, the six-person international relay team of three men and three women, aged between 71 and 80, will attempt the historic crossing on the tide, starting July 29, at 1.30 am, weather permitting.

Among the swimmers is Ellery McGowan, who turns 79 in August and is the second oldest in the group.

McGowan, a seasoned marathon and ice swimmer, has completed swims around Manhattan (2013), across Lake Zurich (2010), and the Kalamata Gulf in Greece (2016).

The Australian woman, who moved to the UK 25 years ago, holds multiple ice swimming age-group world records from 50m to 500m.

The 78-year-old is raising money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) in memory of her youngest son, James McGowan, who died suddenly in 2015 at the age of 27 due to an undiagnosed heart condition.

With this swim, she hopes to conclude a decade of fundraising that has already raised £47,000 for the charity.

Her original goal for this final fundraiser is £1,000, which could support up to 20 heart screenings for young people.

GB NEWS | Ellery McGowan holds fundraisers for C-R-Y to raise money

Speaking exclusively to GB News, McGowan said: "I was asked to join mainly for my age, not my swimming skills."

"This is a record attempt — six of us, aged from 71 to 80, three men and three women, from the UK, US, and Australia. It’s about making one last meaningful swim."

The team expects the relay to take approximately 16.5 hours, swimming in one-hour rotations through the night and into the next day.

Some members of the team already hold age-related Channel records, and this crossing aims to solidify another.

GB NEWS

Speaking on her motivation, McGowan told the People's Channel: "James died just before a trip to Australia. We had never heard of sudden cardiac death in the young. CRY helped us understand.

"Since then, I’ve swum in his memory — in places he loved, like Greece and Ireland. This will be my final fundraiser."

Despite recent health challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis last year, Ellery remains optimistic and motivated.

"I love the water. I’m happiest in it. This is about closing a chapter, doing something extraordinary with like-minded people, and giving something back."

GB NEWS | Ellery McGowan swimming the English Channel in 2017

GB NEWS

McGowan recalled: "I was 60 when we did our first-ever English channel relay. It was a great friend of mine who booked solo, and then mentally, she wasn't really ready for it, and so she said, let's do a relay. And there were six of us, we had the most perfect day, and we crossed in nine hours, 35 minutes.

"It was a taste for all of us to venture into English Channel swimming."

Every week in the UK, at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

Donations to Ellery’s CRY fundraiser can be made HERE.