I love swimming but for the last few years my general mobility has been affected by the rare autoimmune condition Myasthenia Gravis, which I developed in 2015. The condition means that antibodies which normally fight infections go wrong and attack the communication system between the brain and my muscles. This has affected my ability to walk, talk (!) and swallow.  Since having an operation in 2016 to remove a related tumour, I have spent a lot of time in hospital .... but the good news is that I am now gaining strength and getting better! I have been trying to improve my core strength with some walking and yoga and the latest is swimming! Swimming is particularly good because it helps with my breathing, which is also affected by the condition. Not having swum for a long time, I am building up to regular swims at our local pool. The staff and facilities there are great and include a wheelchair "pod" which lowers me into the water. As I am going to be 70 this year, I will attempt to swim a total of 70 separate lengths during the month of August , as part of the Myaware "Share our Strengths" campaign.    

Thanks for your support dear friends and family! I have chosen £1,000 as a target, because this amount could help towards starting a new research project into the cause, cure and treatment for Myasthenia.

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