Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Hello. My name is Kit and I have MS. Diagnosed in 2004, I may have had it for 32 or even 57 years. I’m asymptomatic. I’m lucky in that it doesn’t define me. What does is my fortunate lifestyle living near beaches and countryside; the outdoor life; jogging, stargazing, gardening, swimming.
When Professor Gavin Giovannoni aka Prof G of BartsMS Research appealed for donations for an antibody research programme, I wanted to help. The founder a charity had withdrawn the funding due to loss of income, a familiar 2020 story.
Prof G decided to do a marathon despite a hip problem. Trouble is it only raised 30%of the modest £27k needed. In November he was hit by a motorbike sustaining a broken hip, C spine injuries and contusions. He had a cunning plan to walk 100m unaided before December. In fact he achieved 650m in 2 and a half weeks but despite a flurry of donations, the total eluded him,
This where my own cunning plan comes in; to swim 10 beaches for 10 minutes each before Christmas. I started on November 23 which might seem like putting the cart before the horse as regards fundraising but the research is time sensitive and the sea temperatures are falling. Currently around 11C, they were 12C and I haven’t got a wetsuit. I have swum at Par, Polkerris, Looe, Spit Beach and plan to do Readymoney and Charlestown this week with Newquay and St Ives to come; plenty of beaches there. Reserve beaches are Cawsand, Kingsand and Porthcurno, but they’re 100 miles apart and I just use the train, buses and Shanks Pony.
This antibody test is for MS people against Covid, but applicable across other health settings. Please, when you snuggle in to your onesie, chuck another log on the wood stove, think of me in the sea. Please support me.