My  Ionian  Swim  Odyssey  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.  

 

 Since all of this fundraising has the theme of Superheroes I’ve opted to become the first water-loving Catwoman in history.  

 

 In the last month alone Felix has undergone three major surgeries to remove tumours from deep within his brain, his lung and his spleen.  Anything you give, and anything I do, will be as nothing compared to this little boy’s bravery.  Please pay tribute to him by donating as generously as you feel able. 

 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.  

 

The Sea

 

 Incorrigible, ruthless,

It rattled the shingly beach of my childhood,

 

Subtle, the opposite of earth,

And, unlike earth, capable,

Any time at all of proclaiming eternity

Like something or someone to whom

We have to surrender, finding

Through that surrender life.

 

(Louis Macneice)