Martin is swimming for cancer research and his uncle's memory
Martin Billman is raising money for Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie & The Swimathon Foundation
Story
My name is Martin and on Friday 10th September I'll be swimming 2.5km in open water, further than I have ever swum before, to raise money for cancer research and care and in memory of my uncle Håkan.
Håkan passed away recently from Lung cancer. The silver lining in his story is that just before he was diagnosed, a new drug called Tagrisso was approved, and it gave him over 2 years of largely symptom-free, family-filled life - far more than previous drugs would have been able to offer.
Eventually the cancer became resistant to the drug, as happens, and the next generation of drugs for patients like Håkan don't exist yet. Continued research will help find new drugs to help people like my uncle, either at the first stage or when the current best treatments stop working, and any help you can offer will help bring that day closer.
You can find out more about the event I'm participating in below. Thank you!
---
Open Water Swimathon is returning for the fifth year running on Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 September 2021 at numerous venues across the UK. This is your chance to fundraise for two incredible causes, Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
Cancer Research UK, the worlds leading cancer charity is dedicated to saving lives through research. They don't receive any government funding for their work, so their progress is all thanks to the support of people like you.
Marie Curie provides expert care, guidance and support for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. Around 2,100 Marie Curie Nurses work day and night, in peoples homes all over the UK, providing hands-on care to people when they need it most.
Together we can really make a difference.
We have a range of distances available, from 500m up to 5k, to suit both experienced open water swimmers, and those transferring from the pool to the open water for the first time.
Find out more at https://openwaterswimathon.org