On September 24th 2011, I took the plunge into chilly (12.8°C / 55°F) Strathclyde Loch for a two-kilometre swim to raise funds for children with eye cancer! 

I CAN swim 2km in open water, but I can’t see the time or distance makers.  I had eye cancer as a child - I have one artificial eye and limited sight in the other.  Aside from the cold, the test for me was psychological - “How long have I been swimming? How far have I swum? How close is the finish line?” The mind can play tricks very easily!

 

I was blessed to be born in a country with great health care.  Most children are not so fortunate.  9 in 10 children with eye cancer live in developing countries, where they struggle to access specialist medical care and essential family support.  As a result, 80% of these children die, compared with less than 3% mortality in developed countries.  Most children suffer terribly before they die.

 

Every child deserves the best opportunities to overcome cancer, and to have a good quality of life when cure isn’t possible.  Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund is committed to bringing these opportunities to children with eye cancer around the world.  We:

 

- educate the public and medical community, to achieve early diagnosis
- empowere the medical community to deliver sustainable high quality care
- enable family support programs to reduce burdens and improve access to care

 

Please look at the photo album, but be warned that photos 3 and 4 are graphic - this is the PREVENTABLE reality for thousands of children worldwide.  Children with cancer in developing countries CAN be cured.  They are the reason I sawm 2k in very cold water!

 

Finally I have been able to homour all my 2010 sponsors (the 2010 swim was cancelled to an invasion of toxic blue-green algae on the loch).  Thank you so much to all my sponsors for your very generous support! 

If you've been waiting for me to complete the challenge before sponsoring me, there's still time to add your support!  Please sponsor me today and help bring the promise of life and sight to all children with eye cancer and their families.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. JustGiving will never sell your details on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 

So please dig deep and donate now!

 

Thank you very much!