ACTION mum Helen Skelton is busy preparing for her next challenge - to swim the English Channel in relay.

The former Blue Peter presenter, who is part of a group called The Sisterhood, will tackle the Channel next month.

Helen - and seven other women - will relay swim 26 miles in aid of The Sick Childrens Trust.

Helen said: "I’ve signed up to swim the channel - in a team not doing it solo."

The team of heroes tackling the choppy water comprises of Helen, Emma, Dr Vanessa Moulton, Claire Worman, Elle Grenfell, Alexa Ergatoudis and Chesca Lord.

Helen, 35, originally of Kirkby Thore, near Penrith, is no stranger to adventure challenges.

In 2009, she completed The Namibia Marathon.

The race is hailed as one of the toughest races in the world. It is 78 miles long - equivalent to three marathons - and is run across desert terrain, in temperatures up to 45 degrees.

In 2010, Helen paddled down the Amazon river, a journey many experts said she would find impossible.

On her way she paddled past alligators, anacondas and shoals of man-eating piranha fish.

And in 2011, she walked a tightrope between the chimneys of Battersea Power Station for charity. The Cumbrian farmer's daughter covered the 150m stretch on a high-wire above the south London building in just 11 minutes.

Last month, Helen displayed her athletic prowess as she ran her third London Marathon in just four hours and 15 minutes last month.

This week she was spotted taking part in an outdoor swimming session with her dog by a Yorkshire waterfall on Tuesday morning.

She captioned the images on social media: "If I go in you have to Spider-Man..... Yorkshire you are good to us with these hidden treats."

Sisterhood founder Emma Sayle had a roller coaster start to 2019 with her four-month-old baby being rushed to The Royal London Hospital and intibated for 10 days.

The Sick Childrens Trust gave Emma a bed and support.

Emma said: "During that time, the Sisterhood raised £5,000 during those 10 days for the charity and with over half the team being mums we felt strongly that this swim should be for this charity."

Helen said: "We would like to thank SISTR, Y1 Sport, 1Rebel and Brand Explosion for sponsoring us."

For more info on the sisterhood www.sisterhoodchallenge.co.uk