I have known Tony the event organiser for quite a few years, as we both swim at the same swimming pool in Telford. Chatting with Tony, I soon learnt about the annual swim across the Solent that Tony organises for the Ian Pratt Motor Neurone Disease Foundation. I was even more impressed when this annual swim wasn't a big enough challenge for Tony and he took the training up a notch or two to swim the Channel.

In late 2019, I finally accepted the challenge to participate in the 2020 Solent swim, with a commitment to raise money for the Ian Pratt foundation. Motor Neurone Disease is a horrible disease for which there is currently no known cure. The Foundation was established to provide support to people living with Motor Neurone Disease, to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and to fund research into finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

By completing this swim, I hope to make a small contribution to the work of the Foundation - http://www.ianprattmndf.org

For obvious reasons, the 2020 swim was cancelled, but the plan is for the swim to take place in July. The swim starts in Ryde on the Isle of Wight and ends just to the West of Portsmouth on the mainland. Its about 4.6km in a straight line. I guess if I'm not quick enough I'll end up in either Poole or Brighton depending on the tide (it is all properly organised with lots of safety boats). I will complete the swim, weather dependent, on the 19th July.