My cousin Owen was a national swimmer and had massive promise. While training in 2017 he discovered he’d had more and more headaches. At first, he thought it was just hard training, but it got progressively worse as the weeks went on. In late 2018 as Owen turned his 15th birthday he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was so blessed to be to be given the opportunity of proton beam therapy at Jacksonville in Florida, which aided in his recovery. 

The Pituitary Foundation were a huge part in the recovery for my cousins family and for many other families. The Pituitary Foundation’s aims are to: provide support to patients, their families, friends and carers. To give information on medical and lifestyle issues faced by sufferers of pituitary disease. And to increase public awareness of pituitary disorders.

As a former international swimmer myself, I felt I had to find a way of giving back to the charity that supported him so well. Having retired from swimming in 2018, and recently began cycling, the “Frog Whitton Challenge” captured my imagination and I fell in love with the idea of it. WITH 96 miles of cycling over the toughest climbs in the Lake District (over 11,000 ft of elevation gain) and 6 miles swimming in some of the most beautiful waters in the Lakes. This event was undertaken for the first time in 2019 by Ben Dowman and it seemed like the perfect challenge for me to push my self to new limits and promote the great work by The Pituitary Foundation. 

What more could I do but create  a just giving page for such a worthy cause. I know this challenge will be tough, but not as tough as what Owen and his family has been through. 

Thanks for your donation I know it would mean the world to the foundation to help other teenagers and children with these conditions.