I’ve been surfing on and off for the past 25 years and in May 2017, I started sea swimming. As a Salty Seabird (based on Brighton and Hove) I have swum through 2 winters and am almost out on the warmer  side of my third.

For obvious reasons, 2020 was a slightly different year. The first 2 months appeared relatively normal (I swam when I could), however, from March 16th I was swimming every day. Throughout the whole year, I clocked up a total of 400 skin swims in the sea.

If we now think of the year starting on March 16th 2020, Jan 9th 2021 was my 300th consecutive day sea swimming😳 I didn’t set out to do that, it just became a part of my daily routine, my way of coping. I’m now planning on completing 365 days straight.

I’m going to take this opportunity to raise money for 2 charities during my final 31 days. After my first 300 swims in 2020, I gave £300 shared between, Seabirds Ltd, Leave No Trace Brighton, RNLI, Firefighters and Sycamore Park Care Home (where my Grandma was a resident). I’m now asking you to donate, if you are able, to either of my JustGiving pages. I aim to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society (this page) and the RNLI.

🔸Why Alzheimer’s?

My Grandma had Alzheimer’s and, although she has recently died of Covid-19 (aged 95), this disease was not going to go away. She was a strong, capable lady and I am proud to say we have always had an incredibly close bond. I have too many memories to mention but many involved swimming, from her taking me for my weekly swimming lesson when I was small, to me teaching her to swim when I was a teenager. Treasured times🤍 She was excited and proud that I was nearing the end of my 365 days of sea swimming so it feels even more important that I complete this challenge.

•Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia forever. Until the day we find a cure, we will create a society where those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice.