UPDATE: 14TH JULY.  This morning I should have been in Bournemouth for the swim but, frustratingly, I won't be there.  I've been affected by chronic fatigue for most of my adult life; it's rarely acute, I function normally as long as I don't exert myself too hard and typically it disappears over a couple of weeks.  In the past few months, though, it's inhibited my ability to train and my doctor has counseled against the swim. 

Once I've got this out of my system I'm going to find a  location for my own personal open water swim of an equivalent distance (possibly in the Lake District) and do an alternative to justify your generous support.  Thank you so much for your sponsorship and I'll keep you posted.  Meirion

I'll be honest.  My motivations for this swim aren't completely selfless.  The British Heart Foundation's inspiring research has helped to halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK.  It needs our continuing support to create new treatments and cures and it's fabulous to help this effort.  At the same time, signing up for this swim creates a binding physical and mental commitment - to the BHF, to my sponsors - that leaves no wriggle room.  I'm not a great swimmer so this an opportunity to push into unexplored territory, to discover something about myself while helping an incredibly worthwhile cause.  Thanks very much.  Meirion