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Its been 3 years since I last did a physical challenge in memory of Tiggy.  This year in the run up to Tiggys 11th birthday and the 4th anniversary of the road traffic accident which instantly killed Tiggy and also her grandfather and one of his 2 dogs I felt the need to channel some energy into something for Tigs.  To swim in her memory - the distance of the English channel.  She was a very graceful swimmer on top of the water (like a swan her teacher Anne said) and so lively and all over the place under the water - big smiles and funny faces and arms and legs everywhere.  That together with my love of swimming and a fleeting dream I had when I was young of becoming the youngest person to swim the English channel have been the foundations for this challenge.

All of our 3 girls are water babies and have been swimming with me since almost 9 months before they were born.

On the morning of the accident Tigs and I sat together watching Tom Daley and Blake Aldridge performing their dives in the Olympics in Beijing on the television.  I can hear her saying ‘Wow that was a good one Mummy wasn’t it?, I’d like to learn to dive’.

We shared many loves/likes and swimming was one of them, singing, dancing, music, nature, animals, same sense of humour were a few others.

I am under no illusions that actually swimming the English channel is way beyond my capabilities (I have utmost respect for David Walliams!!) but to swim the distance in a 25m pool where I can stay close to my family might just be possible over a few days.  I mentioned to my dad that I thought I could do it over 2 weeks to which he replied 2 days would be a great challenge! Thanks Dad - and Mum for believing I can do it!!  The distance is 22 miles that is 1416 lengths of a 25m pool.  So I am aiming to swim the distance over 3 days.  For the last mile I plan an open water swim together with a friend Vicky Strassheim - along part of Northumberlands beautiful coast up near Howick where Tigs, her sisters her Nonna and Babo with dogs and I had a beautiful calm happy day before the silver lining of the cloud disappeared on the evening of august 11 2008.

A few amazing ladies have come up with a plan to support me in my challenge.  Between them they are aiming to swim the distance of the English channel.  They are Katie Soward who is swimming 4 miles, 2 of them open water at the great north swim in lake Windemere and her daughter (Josie age 9) doing 1 mile, Anne Appleby (Tiggys swimming teacher) doing 2 miles, Cath Speed doing 3 miles and her daughter Lottie (age 9) doing 1 mile, Vicky Strassheim who is swimming 11 miles and her children Abel (age 6) and Eliza (age 8) who are swimming a quarter mile and Jennifer Power who is swimming 1 mile open water at the great north swim in lake windemere.  Our girls Poppy (age 8) and Otalia (age 6)  will also swim a half of a mile between themselves.  This comes in at a bit over the distance for good measure!! Thank you everybody!

I have so many people to thank for helping us all over the last nearly 4 years.  Hearing Tiggy’s name is like music to my ears.  My girls Poppy and Otalia are my tonic and keep me smiling, feeling warm in the present and looking to the future.  My Ben who keeps an even keel and has such grounding!  My friends who hug me and make me tea. My family who are gentle with me and sensitive and always have time for me. Those who I have met through the accident who have shown such unending compassion and good practical solutions.  Those at the end of e-mails and texts who brighten my days.  Friends and family who show such patience! 

The charity I am hoping to raise money for is Brake, the road safety charity.  This charity aims to improve road safety and support the victims and families of those in road traffic accidents.  Amongst many other things it provides training for police family liaison officers, firemen and others and provides invaluable support for those bereaved or injured. It also provides a very helpful book for children which Ben and I found invaluable in the aftermath of the accident. 

I set out to swim the distance before the end of the school summer term but a shoulder injury, which is getting better now, has meant  I am postponing it to autumn 2012.  The exact date will be announced soon.

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