I managed to swim the 2.5 miles in the calm water at Plymouth on 19th August with 100 other swimmers. The condition could not have been better - with the water temperature just right for wetsuiters and brave swimming suiters. The traffic was as expected - the marshall did so well to keep us away from the busy boats in the harbour. Unlike many other openwater competitions, we did not have huge buoys to guide us to the finishing line/shore so a lot of us did many zigzags and occasional look-around. 

Many many thanks to all the sponsors who patiently waited for the swim to take place. Every penny you donated is used to improve brain tumour patients' lives and to eventually beat this devastating illness.

Naoko x x

 

It's on ! - 19th August - Plymouth Breakwater to Plymouth Hoe (2.5 mile swim). At least it is in the sea and not a river so I hope the event will take place according to the schedule. I did a little bit of practice in Plymouth last week - Absolutely beautiful right next to Tinside Lido.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another update: Can you believe it?! Due to the adverse river condition, Hampton Court Bridge to Kingston Bridge race got postponed to who knows when !!! This weather is killing a lot of swim events and spoiling fundraising opportunities. Well, I am looking into alternative events avoiding rivers. Thank you so much for being very patient. Naoko x

==================================================

Update again: Unfortunately the river condition has not improved sufficiently enough for Henley classic to take place on the 8th July. I have instead entered "Hampton Court Bridge to Kingston Bridge" on the 15th July. It is 2.25 miles (3.65k) DOWNSTREAM swim at a sensible time on Sunday morning. My time was 1'13"22 last year, so I hope to make some improvement this year.

Thank you for supporting me.

==================================================

Update: Due to the recent record rainfall, Henley Classic has been postponed to the 8th July. The same early start at 4:30am!

=================================================

As some of you know, my husband, Simon was rushed to a hospital with the severe headache nearly 5 years ago. A week later, he was diagnosed of having a malignant brain tumour, GBM. 

Simon went on to have the standard treatments available for GBM and was the first patient in the UK to go on the cutting edge clinical trial. Sadly, he lost his battle 3 years ago when he was just 40 years old.

Currently, the cause of brain tumour is not known. Simon was a young healthy and fit person, who enjoyed boxing training a few times a week. Despite GBM is the most common and aggressive form of malignant primary brain tumour, little progress has been made in the last 50 years in terms of development of effective treatment. 

Brain Tumour UK help brain tumour patients and their families through their scientic research, the emotional support and the provision of practical information much needed to fight this challenging illness as very limited government funding is going into the development of brain tumour treatment. 

In memory of Simon, I am stepping into the River Thames at the crack of dawn on 24th June - 4:30am and swimming 2.1km upstream over the Henley Royal Regatta course. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting my fund raising events in the past. And once again, I would like to ask you to help me raise fund for the good cause. I would be most grateful for any contribution you could make.

Thank you very much.

Naoko