Sophie Moss
Sophie's Swim 21 (English Channel pool swim 21 miles)
Fundraising for RUHX
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, degenerative spinal disc disease, chronic low back pain and osteoporosis in 2006. I have been treated by rheumatology therapies over the past 13 years at the RNHRD (Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases) in Bath. I struggle daily with chronic pain and fatigue. I am also an expert patient volunteer on the therapy-led RNHRD Fibromyalgia Self-management Programme (FSMP) supporting newly diagnosed patients. We have recently moved into our newly opened purpose-built RNHRD & Brownsword Therapies Centre at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. We still need to raise more funds to finish paying for it which is being match funded by Andrew Brownsword and to pay for specialist equipment.
Since November 2018 I have been on a GP referral scheme to the Healthwise programme at Aqua leisure Bath, and though I struggled to do the gym programme and had to stop for 3 months due to severe episodes of pain, I began swimming in March 2019. I swim at least once a week and when able, twice. The pool is 25 metres long, and initially, I was exhausted and fatigued after a few lengths. But eight months on I can regularly swim between 20 - 40 lengths (500 - 1000 metres). To swim the equivalent of the 21 miles shortest distance across the English Channel, I will need to swim 1352 lengths that will take me some time to achieve (approximately 4 to 12 weeks) because of my pain and fatigue. I will keep you updated on my progress.
Update: 29 September, 2020
It's taken me 25 weeks to complete this challenge. I began on Nov 15 2019. Covid-19 restrictions forced 5 months off and missed sessions due to illness. But I was determined to finish this and I have! 
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.