As many of you will know, my lovely mum Kay Dixon was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of June 2018 and died just two and a half months later on 17 September 2018.  

My mum was a lifelong non-smoker, healthy, fit and active. She always ate her five-a-day and did her ten thousand steps!  Kay was an amazing woman who, after retiring, achieved a BA in Art History, graduating from Birkbeck (University of London) with a first class degree at the age of 70 and subsequently gaining an MA in Garden History.  At the time of her diagnosis she was working as a guide at the Tate Modern, at Tate Britain and at the Dickens Museum where she also worked in the garden. She is so much missed by her many friends and colleagues who loved her warmth, wit and vitality - and to us, her family, she is irreplaceable.

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation aims to provide help and hope to people affected by lung cancer. Founded in 1990, it is the only UK charity to focus solely on lung cancer care. It has a dual focus - saving lives and supporting people affected by lung cancer. It funds lung cancer research, supports the prevention of lung cancer, and raises general awareness of lung cancer and its symptoms. It also supports lung cancer patients by running support groups, providing information to the NHS and other measures.

Throughout my mum's illness, Roy Castle Lung Cancer provided us with first-rate information which was always clear and accessible at a very frightening and stressful time.  Their leaflets were our first port of call when we needed to understand what was going on, and the first thing the wonderful cancer nurses at UCLH gave my mum after her diagnosis.

When my mum was near the end, I promised her that I would fundraise after her death to help achieve earlier diagnosis and better treatment for lung cancer patients. I know it was my mum's hope that within ten years this awful disease would be beaten.

My "thing" is cold water swimming and my mum was always really proud of my crazy swimming exploits, often turning up (and often the only person there!) to cheer me on.

So when I discovered Swim the Distance (https://www.roycastle.org/support-us/our-events/swim-the-distance-this-november#challenge), a sponsored swim taking place throughout November run by Roy Castle Lung Cancer, I knew it had my name on it!

I am challenging myself to swim a total of ten miles over the month of November, all in cold water and all without a wetsuit. At present the water temperature is 8C and falling and, to be honest, I'm not at all sure how I'm going to manage it! But you all know I'll give it my best shot.

I will keep you posted and in the meantime, please do consider donating. It would really, really mean a lot to me and my family. Nothing can bring my mum back but I know that she would not want others to suffer as she did.

Thank you for reading.