4 years ago I founded the charity Aid Box Community - Hope and Help to refugees after seeing the picture of little Alan Kurdi's body washed up on the shore of Turkey. This could have been any of us or our children, the sadness and despair I felt moved me to act. Since this day I've dedicated my life to supporting refugees and asylum seekers (and of course to my family). 

I started wild swimming in March l this year following a very low period, when the last 4 years caught up with me and I was burnt out. I found it so exhilarating and healing. My first swim was in March, it was 8 Degrees and it blew my mind. I could not believe that my body and mind was capable of swimming in this water. Since then I've swam weekly in rivers, seas and lakes and I'm a true addict!

I've been so inspired by  hundreds of refugees that I have met since 2015 who have shown me that despite experiencing war, death, repeated trauma, isolation, poverty and ill health that they keep on with such strength and resilience. So I am going to show strength and resilience this winter by swimming every week in lakes, rivers or the sea, through snow and ice, to raise funds to support ABC. Because everyone deserves hope and Love.