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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">My <em>Ionian Swim Odyssey</em> is a fundraising effort based around the Ionian islands in Western Greece and is inspired by Felix’s White's enduring love of the sea. With a handful of other swimmers I shall attempt 11 island crossings, each one up to 6km, over the course of 6 days. I want to raise funds for Felix and his amazing family in order to support his current treatment for the devastating childhood cancer Neuroblastoma, which is now of necessity based at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the United States and therefore not funded by the NHS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> <span style="color: #3366ff;">Since all of this fundraising has the theme of Superheroes I’ve opted to become the first water-loving Catwoman in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> <span style="color: #3366ff;">In the last month alone Felix has undergone three major surgeries to remove tumours from deep within his brain, his lung and his spleen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything you give, and anything I do, will be as nothing compared to this little boy’s bravery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pay tribute to him by donating as generously as you feel able.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you have any reservations about contributing to an appeal for a single child, please bear in mind that sadly for Felix he is his own medical trial and, whatever happens, the treatment he receives as a result of your donation will benefit other children in the future, hopefully transforming the survival rates for Neuroblastoma to something akin to those for Leukaemia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #3366ff;">The Sea</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #3366ff;">Incorrigible, ruthless,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">It rattled the shingly beach of my childhood,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Subtle, the opposite of earth,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">And, unlike earth, capable,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Any time at all of proclaiming eternity</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Like something or someone to whom</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">We have to surrender, finding</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Through that surrender life.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">(Louis Macneice)</span></p>
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