My mum was cared for and later passed away at Ystradgynlais Community Hospital in May 2014 after a battle with cancer. The team and staff at the hospital were first class and I always promised Mum and my Dad I would repay the hospital and raise some money for patients in the future. My Mum loved helping others.

I wanted to challenge myself to overcome a fear I had. This fear is swimming, something in my 38 years I have dreaded. I spoke to a friend Steve Lewis who was training for the ironman Wales event and he told me he would teach me to swim. I never got the chance to take Steve up on his offer of swimming lessons as days later after our conversation, he was tragically killed in a training accident, this gave me more motivation to learn to swim.

In July this year, I had my first swimming lesson at the age of 38, at the end of lesson which I managed to swim half a lenght, I went to my car and on my phone I signed up for the Neath Valley triathlon. As a non swimmer this is some event for me to aim to undertake, this event take place on Sunday 17th September and includes a 400m Pool Swim / 22km Bike / 3km Run

I aim to complete this for Ystradgynlais Community Hospital league of friends, any money raised will be for patient comforts for local people

Thank you

Gareth