On Saturday March the 4th I'll be trying to complete a 3.3km ocean swim. It's the furthest I've ever swum in open water, 132 lengths of a 25 metre pool!

And I won't be wearing a wetsuit...

This is something I chose to do just for the challenge, but I've been spending three to six hours a week swimming for the last few months, so I've had lots of quiet time to think.

One person I've been thinking about is my grandpa Ron, who died last year after very many years of living with Parkinson's.

Grandpa was always making something or doing something, which I'm sure made the reality of living with Parkinson's all the more difficult for him. But he still kept smiling, and finding joy in life, long past the point I might have given up.

On the days when I was hating every minute of training for this swim, when I had to lie to myself that I only had ten more lengths to swim, thinking of grandpa spurred me on.

If you'd like to give some money to Parkinson's UK in recognition of grandpa's massive effort to persevere, and my tiny one, I'd be very grateful.

Love,
Kirstie