Eeekk, I am going to be one of those swimmers in the picture.  Taking up the challenge of swimming around St Michael's Mount on the 11th September.  I learnt to front crawl around 3 years ago, tagging onto the end of my children's swimming lessons.  I could swim prior to this but had never learnt to front crawl.  Since then, I have grown a love of sea swimming and have really embraced it over these last 2 years but only when I pretend to myself that nothing else is in there! I have taken part in my first Olympic Tri this year which involved a swim but this is still a challenge for me and I am more nervous than the Tri! It will be the longest swim challenge I have attempted, 2.5km - it looks further to me.  It is unknown waters to where I usually swim and as anyone who dips their toes in the water knows, with outdoor swimming - the weather changes each swim.  My positive spin is it makes every swim unique.  I am not aiming for speeds, this is to embrace everything about it.  I will have my eye on one prize and hope to receive a celebratory pasty at the end.  People who know me well may think that the pasty may be the only reason why I am doing this, oh no - a little more... 

It is to raise awareness and fund for the Chestnut Appeal, founded in 1999 at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and has since gone on to be at the forefront of prostate cancer care right across the region. They support the very latest in treatments and technology that wouldn’t be available without community fundraising and rely on donations from the public.  Here is a little more from them... 

"We have a lot to be thankful for, and a huge amount to do in the future to ensure men’s health is continually talked about, that the South West corner of the UK isn’t forgotten about and, that that we’re able to attract the very best technologies to the area." 

"Raising awareness is at the heart of everything we do, as well as this, with funds raised by YOU, we support our hospitals by purchasing the very latest equipment and treatments that perhaps aren’t available in the region.  We have a​ unique geography, so our work is often unique, to help more men than ever before, we’re also building an online community, reaching more men in the community who need help and support during and after their cancer treatments. ‬We want men and their families to know that we’re here for as long as you need us!" 

All donations, sharing of this post and awareness - it truly appreciated. 

Andrea x