On my 70th birthday, I wanted to show I'm alive and kicking, so I swam 70 lengths (that's 1.75km or 1.1miles approx). I hope you like the photo by Kevin of me in my swimming trunks!

I'm asking people to donate £70 (or some other sum), to Ashanti Development. It is a super effective charity, run by volunteers in the UK, so all the money goes to help the health and development of a poor area of Ghana.

LATEST NEWS Fund-raising is going so well I have raised the target  to £5,500.  This will fund a larger village to get sanitation and some income earning activity going. Previous villages have chosen bee-keeping and jewellery making but the decision is made by the village. In addition the larger figure would allow a range of wider health needs (mosquito nets for example) to be met.

Personally, I trust the judgement of Ashanti Development to allocate the funds for best effect, but if you want to specify a particular use for your money, then that is absolutely fine, and here are some options for you to choose from.

(a) I leave it to Ashanti Development to allocate the money in accordance with their assessment of needs.

(b) I'd like my money to go towards the charity's microcredit work, which provides business training and small loans to very poor women to set up trading enterprises.

(c) I'd like my money to go towards providing free school meals to children under five.  This is the age group most at risk from malnourishment.

(d) I'd like my money to go toward sanitation for the poor, elderly and disabled.

Just make a note of which you would prefer in the comments bit of the donation page.

FAQs

1. When and where did you swim? Laboratory Health Club, Muswell Hill, 3.07 to 3.57pm on 24th March 2014.   

2. How can we know for sure it was 70 lengths? The eminent mathematician, Dr Robert Solomon, was the lapmeister.

3. Why are you using 'justgiving'? It is an efficient way of ensuring gift aid tax relief for Ashanti. They charge a fee which Richard is paying so that all your money goes to Ghana. The gift aid has been added into the total donated as an 'offline donation'.

4. I don't trust any website with my card details. Can I still give? Yes, please send a cheque made out to Ashanti Development to Richard Arthur, 11d Highgate West Hill, London N6 6JR. Even better, ask him to send a gift aid form to complete and the charity gets money from the taxman too. Thanks to Bill, Sue, Peter, Sarah, Mary, Vi and Aki who chose this way.

5. Where can I find more about Ashanti Development? Check out their website http://ashanti-development.org

6. I see Ashanti erect latrines. Will they be called Arthur's Seat or Arthur's Throne? No answer yet!