On July 7th 2019 every parents worst nightmare happened to me.

My little girl, Aoife - passed away at Great Ormond Street Hospital, age 3 - after a fatal cardiac arrest following her first cycle of chemotherapy. My beautiful little girl, had been fatally misdiagnosed with common childhood ailments. My partner and I's concerns completely ignored on the multiple occasions (10 times in the weeks leading up to her passing) we sought help for her. Aoife had cancer and Aoife should still be here.

Aoife had germ cell cancer, which is over 90% reactive to chemotherapy when caught early and Aoife's should have been, her sinister symptoms were ignored. Leaving her with her diagnosis for just 5 days.

Aoife changed my life in so many ways and I plan to use my Dad pain as my power to complete this challenge for her, for her legacy and to continue our fight against children's cancer in my daughters name. This is nothing, compared to what she went through.

Aoife hated water, unless it was a muddy puddle. I can think of no better challenge to honour her than this.

We will be attempting to swim the length of the English Chanel in the River Stour by starting at Flatford bridge, to The Boathouse and back - 8 times, totalling 15 trips amongst a group of swimmers, I will be doing the first 3 miles and the last 1.5 miles. Totalling over 22 miles for the team. We will be doing this on Aoife's anniversary of her passing - the weekend of July 5th and 6th 2025 - Aoifes's anniversary being 7/7/25.

All funds raised will be dedicated to the charity we run as a family - Aoife's Bubbles Charity which campaigns tirelessly for to raise childhood cancer awareness, as well as providing acts of joy and respite to families affected by childhood cancer.

www.aoifesbubbles.co.uk

TEAM MEMBERS SO FAR (More names TBC)

RICHARD PAYNE

MATTHEW MOFFATT

ANNETTE SYMONDS