Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page, where I am hoping to raise as much as possible by swimming 5k (200 lengths) in support of these amazing charities whose incredible work unfortunately has already, or will touch all our lives at some time.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 incurable lung cancer back in March 2022 and at that time I was so unwell I really didn't expect to still be here and, even more unbelievably, to feel capable of swimming 5k in under 2 hours - around double the amount I currently swim in a single session.

I consider myself fortunate that I have a type of cancer that can be treated with immunotherapy (rather than chemotherapy which is often so brutal). In my case immunotherapy isn't a cure but the aim is to keep the cancer stable, or even reduce it, which so far has worked despite my not being able to have any treatment (due to some rather dangerous internal side effects) since September 2022. The immunotherapy I received was only approved for use with my type of cancer in 2016 in the US  and (I think I'm right in saying) 2018 in the UK - this is why funding research is so important as new things are being discovered all the time.

I'm currently lucky to be living well with cancer and your donation will continue to enable other's to do the same, both now and in the future.

I will be swimming at 4.30pm on Saturday 27th April at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre - you're welcome to come along and be bored silly :) 

Thank you all so much!

Julie 

Cancer Research UK is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in the world and will stay at the forefront of the global fight against cancer. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer and all of us can support the research that will beat it. 

Marie Curie is here for people with any terminal illness and those close to them,  from diagnosis to bereavement. Their nurses and healthcare assistants support families directly across the UK. Their free support line can help with any question about end of life  and they campaign for change and fund vital research that improves end of life care for everyone.

On 26-28 April, thousands of swimmers will be heading to over 400 pools across the UK to raise money for two amazing charity partners. Together we can really make a difference by raising funds to help spread awareness and raise vital funds for these two incredible causes.