On a (hopefully) bright and unseasonably warm Sunday morning in September, the 15th to be precise, I will be donning my brightly coloured swim hat, securing my goggles and squeezing myself into my wetsuit (sorry for that mental image) before attempting to swim 10km down the River Dart in Devon. 

I’m doing this for “fun.” And because a 10km swim seemed like a worthy challenge to get me back into the pool, Lido, lakes, reservoirs and rivers of the South East after many, many years of resolutely ignoring the fact I used to be A Swimmer. 

But more importantly, I’m doing this for Level Water. A charity dedicated to getting disabled children into swimming, helping them become more confident, independent and resilient, in and out of the water.

I’ll be training hard during over the summer. This has so far has included swimming during a hail storm in an unheated lido, and immersing myself in the Royal London Docks on a cold, blustery May evening. 

I would massively appreciate any donation that you feel able to give, no matter how small (or big!). All of the money will go to helping provide specialist swimming lessons for children with physical or sensory disabilities, which can make a massive difference to their life and the lives of their families.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you so much for your support!