ARTISTIC, creative and well travelled are three ways to describe the Hudson brothers.

However, their most recent adventure is one of a sporting nature and will see them swim 90 miles of the river Eden to raise money for The Swimming Trust, a local organisation close to all of their hearts.

Robbie, the eldest brother and an artist based in Berlin, took the time to talk to us about the challenge and give us an insight into his life and those of his brothers.

To find out more about the brothers and their challenge visit http://wildswimmingbrother.wix.com/swimtheeden.

How long have you and your brothers had a passion for swimming and how much did you swim when you were younger?

We have been swimming since we were young children. Visiting our Grandma up in the Scottish Highlands, or our Great Aunt down in Devon, we would always be in the lochs, river and sea. 

Growing up in the Lake District gave us great opportunities for swimming as well. We have all travelled a lot, and so have been lucky enough to swim in places such as the Atlas Mountains, the Himalayas, Indonesia and underwater lakes and rivers in Central America and New Zealand.

Could you tell us about ‘Swim The Eden’ and where the idea for the challenge came from?

Calum dreamt up the challenge after completing an Ironman triathlon. I had previously swum the 7.5-mile distance of Lake Ullswater to gain inspiration for a series of abstract landscape paintings, and Jack is a qualified lifeguard with scuba diving experience, so when Calum told us his idea, we were both straight on board! 

We wanted to do something that no-one had ever done before and we grew up in a house with the river Eden running through the bottom of the garden, so it holds a lot of special memories for us as brothers. 

We all liked the idea of travelling from source to mouth, swimming a line through the landscape, and hope to inspire others to reconnect with the natural world and work to support the people who protect it. 

What difficulties or obstacles are you expected to face on the swim?

We will face weirs, whirlpools and rapids, but the biggest obstacle will be fatigue. That is why both the mental and physical training is so important. 

How is your training schedule and how much effort are you having to put in?

Training is pretty tough but the worst aspect by far is undoubtedly the cold showers and ice baths! Acclimatising to the cold is a big part of our conditioning so Calum has been swimming the Serpentine, Jack in the North Sea and I’ve been training in the Lakes surrounding Berlin. Each week consists of several long distance swims, as well as additional interval training and technique sessions.

We also lift weights, following a stripped down and basic routine incorporating major compound lifts and not a whole lot else. The 6am squat sessions are as much about building mental toughness as they are increasing strength. 

Stretching and flexibility is important too, and will also be a habitual part of each day of the swim. We incorporate aspects of yoga, alongside stretching routines I learnt from five years of Thai boxing.

How important is The Swimming Trust to you and why did you choose the organisation to raise money for?

We share many core values with The Swimming Trust, so raising money for the fantastic services that they provide was a natural step for us. Their initiatives ensure swimming coaching and opportunities for people who would otherwise have no access to it. They promote swimming as a basic and essential life skill, and champion its physical and psychological benefits. 

Swimming lowers blood pressure, burns fat and cellulite, increases cardiovascular ability, strengthens your immune system, releases endorphins and can alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety.  Wild swimming additionally promotes a healthy respect for the natural environment and the flora and fauna that we share it with. 

How can people donate to the cause?

On our page here is the best way to donate to the cause.

What’s it like taking on the challenge with your two brothers and is there a lot of competition between the three of you?

There is a bit of friendly competition between us, but it helps anyway because it completely negates any possibility of quitting. Any one of the three of us would never live it down if we were the first one to stop, so whatever happens, we will keep swimming. 

Calum is fit enough to complete the Celtman Extreme Triathalon with only one month’s notice, and to cycle 150-mile training routes in about the same amount of time as it takes me to pop to the shops to buy some milk. Jack has an iron will and great natural strength, watching him play rugby, I always felt exceptionally glad never to be on the receiving end of any of his tackles! So swimming with my brothers by my side, I feel pretty unstoppable.  

Could you give us some more information about you and your brothers and the lives you’ve lived to date?

Jack is an author living and working in Newcastle, Calum works in a tech start up firm in London, and I’m an artist based in Berlin. We studied creative writing and English literature, Law and Fine Art at Northumbria, Durham and Newcastle Universities. 

All three of us were born in Yorkshire and raised in Cumbria. We all love to travel, and before starting our degrees, took gap years and journeyed to places such as Central and South America, the Middle East, South East Asia and Indonesia. 

We all love films and literature, and are long suffering Sheffield Wednesday fans. Sport plays a big part in our lives, and we all represented Cumbria in both Rugby and Athletics while we were at school at Ullswater Community College in Penrith. 

I think a taste for adventure runs in our blood, one of our Grandma’s sailed across the Atlantic 3 times in a 3 man boat, and the other was still rowing her boat up and down Loch Broom in the Scottish highlands aged 85, complete with a huge smile across her face. Our mum has trekked all over Scotland and Iceland, and our Dad has undertaken huge treks through many countries in Africa.

Are there any future challenges in the pipeline once this one’s complete?

The River Tay is calling, as well as the Corryvreckan on Aug  1, which is the world’s third largest whirlpool. We have also been planning lake swims in South America, so stay tuned for the latest information.

Follow the boys on Twitter at @edenswim