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On the 26th May 2012 I will be taking part in the British Gas Great London Swim. Now in its fourth year the event is the biggest open water swim in the south of England, with 5,000 participants having taken the the plunge in both 2010 and 2011. The one-mile course starts and finishes on dry land with a run or walk into the water. 

The Royal Victoria Dock, venue of the British Gas Great London Swim, is situated in the East End of London near Canary Wharf in the London Borough of Newham. The one-mile course will be set against the magnificent London skyline, with views of Canary Wharf and the rejuvenated London Docklands area, providing the perfect backdrop for a Great Swim.

My initial thoughts when signing up for this were I must be mad to want to swim a mile in the River Thames. But with the added incentive of wanting to get fit and a fantastic charity in Havens Hospice benefitting from the fundraising it was a no-brainer to sign up.

Havens Hospices incorporates Fair Havens Hospice and Little Havens Children’s Hospice. Havens Hospice provide respite breaks, symptom control and end-of-life care for adults and children living with life-limiting illnesses or conditions. Fair Havens opened its doors in June 1983 and since then has cared for over 20,000 patients and their families from Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

The love and care provided by the Care Teams in the homely surroundings at Fair Havens Hospice and Little Havens Children's Hospice, or within the comfort of a person's own home, is free of charge. This could not continue without kind donations as it costs £5.2 million each year to keep the hospices open.

However tough the training and event will be it cannot be compared to the work that the people of Havens Hospice put in looking after many peoples loved ones. 

So please donate now however big or small for a good cause.

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