Okay, so three miles in three weeks may not be a trek across the Sahara, or a run along the Great Wall of China in heels, but hey, I've got a bad back, and 3 miles of anything is better than sitting on my arse watching America's Next Top Model, thank you very much.

So, last year I was supposed to do the two mile Great North Swim, but it got cancelled due to an alien invasion (did you see it?), but I still feel obliged to go one better this year, so in addition to the Great North Swim, I am also doing the Great East Swim (I'm not kidding, it's in Ipswich!) and the Great London Swim.

I'm swimming for Cancer Research because of my brother, Kevin, who I never met, and who died of leukaemia when he was four years old.  I'm swimming for anyone who has ever lost a close relative to cancer. 

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