Thankyou for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I am raising funds for Alzheimer’s Research Trust because three of my grandparents have experienced dementia – in this respect I am sure I am sadly not alone.

 

There are currently 820,000 people with dementia in the UK: by 2025 Alzhiemer’s Society predicts there will be a million. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. How fast dementia progresses will depend on the individual. Each person is unique and will experience dementia in their own way.

Symptoms of dementia include:

Loss of memory − for example, being unable to remember names and places, or what happened earlier the same day.

Mood changes − particularly as parts of the brain that control emotion are affected by disease. People with dementia may also feel sad, frightened or angry about what is happening to them.

Communication problems − a decline in the ability to talk, read and write.

 

 I am attempting to raise funds by swimming the Straits of Gibraltar: one of the toughest swimming challenges out there. The shortest distance across the Strait is 7.8 nautical miles, however due to the characteristics between these two points, it is not the most suitable course hence my attempt will be from Tarifa Island to the vicinity of Punta Cires having to swim between 10 to 12 nautical miles (18.5 to 22 kilometers) due to the influence of the strong currents which prevail in the Strait. Due to many of the unpredictable hazards of the strait less than 300 people have ever made it to the other side, some of the risks I will be facing include:

 

Currents and tides: Strong currents can interfere in the advance and direction of the trip. This problem has caused many swimmers to abandon the crossing after several hours.

 

Sickness, vomiting and cramps: The causes of these symptoms can be multivarious, emphasizing among them the exhaust fumes from the engines of the boats; swallowing sea-water; swimming into polluted waters; swimming into a swarm of jellyfish; weariness and/or the cold.

 

Hypothermia: The temperature of the water in the Strait of Gibraltar may vary from between 15ºC in winter to 22ºC in summer, (swimming pools are usually in the range of 28 to 32ºC). As I will be making the attempt in early June, I will have to use grease to reduce this risk.

 

Wind: The wind is the most determinate factor in the accomplishment of the crossing. Many swimmers have had to abandon the crossing after remaining many days waiting for adequate conditions in Tarifa.

 

The traffic of vessels: The Gibraltar Strait is one of the busiest maritime zone of the world, with up to 300 vessels sailing through daily, not counting the ferries which cross between the harbours on both coasts of the Strait as well as many fishing and leisure boats. This gives rise to not only a risk of collision but an inconvenience if these vessels pass very close as their bow-waves break the swimmer’s rhythm.

 

 To ensure conditions are the same for all those that attempt the swim, I will be swimming alongside a safety boat (needed to navigate and communicate with vessels in the strait) however will have no contact for the whole duration, food and nutrients will be thrown to me! Depending on the weather I will attempt the swim sometime within the second week of June.

 

Please support me by donating to Alzheimer’s Research Trust.

  

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity