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This year for my birthday I made a commitment to challenge myself and try new things. Throughout the year I will be doing (hopefully fun!) new things, attempting things I used to be able to do...once upon a time...and also taking on some larger challenges until my next birthday. I’ll post some of the bigger or more interesting or just amusing ones here.

My main challenge is completing the Marathon Swim event - 10K in London’s Olympic pool in November. When I signed up it felt like a huge challenge, in fact I hardly told anyone about it for months! Before this challenge, the furthest I had swam at once was 5K in 2016 for Sport Relief. My mum came to watch me and I was shattered when I finished over 2 hours later, so signing up for double that distance was a significant challenge to take on. That said, I have been training hard and building up my distance, so with not long to go (gulp!) I hope to at least cross the finish line before everyone packs up to go home! 😂

While this birthday year challenge is to celebrate and motivate, it is also in no small part a tribute to my Mum, who knew how to enjoy herself. While mum won’t be there to watch me this time, I know she would approve. I hope to continue to raise money for Rheumatoid Arthritis in her memory throughout the year. Mum dealt with severe RA for over 30 years, but still managed to hit the pool up to 3 times a week. She was bloody stubborn, if I am even half as stubborn, I should reach that finish line.... 😉

If this challenge or one of the others I post, big or small, inspires you (or makes you laugh!), please donate. I am already behind on my list so I am sure I will need the encouragement!

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