Story
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. This is dedicated to Tom Mcclintock & supporting Tynedale Community Hospice.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.roundtheisleofwight.blogspot.com/">www.roundtheisleofwight.blogspot.com</a></p>
<p>After a successful Channel relay swim in 2010, some of the "girls" were thinking - what next?! So something not attempted or achieved by many teams is swimming the 55 miles around the Isle of Wight. So at the end of last year, without giving it too much thought and forgetting my hideous sea sickness on the support boat in our Channel swim last year, I said yes! Our (almost) original girls' relay team is attempting to swim around the Isle of Wight. The current record stands at just under 16 hours for a relay, however of the few teams that have attempted it, some have taken 2-3x that due to the complexities of the tides and currents. As we're swimming purists (a few more screws loose than most!) we will be swimming with no wetsuits and according to strict Channel Swimming rules - cossie, hat and goggles,& swimming 1 hour each in turn. With tides at their best, weather permitting, we'll be setting off on Wednesday 29th September 2011 at 9pm.</p>
<p>As the date of our swim has drawn nearer, the reality of challenge has loomed large, as well as the cold water training becoming quite tough ....... no the Cumbrian lakes in September this year are not at their warmest! We've have plenty of odd looks and comments from walkers/ car drivers near Ullswater as we get into train in just our cossies whilst they are fully togged up in fleeces & water proofs in the pouring rain!</p>
<p>My biggest fear of swimming in the sea is not so much the cold water or the dark, but the stinging jelly fish and sea sickness whilst I wait my turn to swim. Thanks to my cold & warm water swimming pals, Jane Saul, Nic Davies, Stuart Robinson and Vicky Johnston who have helped keep me going. And especially to Morgan, Hamish. Morag & Campbell for supporting my training.</p>
<p>I wanted to use this challenge to help raise some much needed money to support these two great charilties and to help me keep going during the swim.</p>
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<p>I wanted to use this challenge to help raise money in memory of Tom Mcclintock, our friends' Jo and Paul, 3 year old son who very sadly died suddenly of liver failure in April this year. Tom was an active 3 year old who lived life to the full. He had Type 1 diabetes , yet managed to do all sorts of outside activities, whilst attached to an insulin pump. He had such an easy smile and loved to laugh and giggle.</p>
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<div>The money raised in memory of Tom is going to Tynedale Community Hospice which runs a bereavement service that helps families pick up the pieces after such a tragic event.</div>
<div>They have espeically helped Jo & Paul's 5 year old daughter Daisy to understand what has just happened and how to deal with those emotions & helped them all to understand how to deal with our own feelings & support each other. Daisy is in the Rainbow club and meets regularly with other children who have had their own loss of a loved one.</div>
<div>Its so important to get it right for them so that they can live the rest of their lives.</div>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now. Thank you very much. Lucy x</p>