Many people that know me know that I have always loved to swim and might not see this as such a challenge for me, however it most certainly is. 

What many will not know is that Swimming is something I  have hardly done and have dreaded since my Ulcertive Colitis diagnosis and then subsequent surgery.  This is due to losing confidence to control my bowel and fear of needing the toilet and also body image due to my scars but mainly fear due to bowel control. And this has only increased since having children. 

However I have taken on the Aspire Challenge and I am so thankful that I have. The first time I swam I managed 60 lengths the next time100 and at that point I realised I had not swam that distance since I was in my twenties. I can not tell you how amazing that felt and how proud I was of myself and my illeoanal Pouch.  This is not only a physical challenge but most certainly a mental challenge for me as well

Although the above is a personal challenge it is nothing compared to the challenge that someone faces with a spinal cord injury. 

I'm taking on the Aspire Channel Swim 2017, swimming the distance of the Channel over 12 weeks to raise money for Aspire. Every eight hours someone is paralysed by a Spinal Cord Injury and Aspire provides the essential equipment, advice, housing and grants that spinal cord injured people need to live their lives independently. This is a big challenge, but the more I raise, the more of a difference I'll make, so please be generous!