I'm looking forward to the Henley Swim Festival on 10th July, when I'll be doing a one-mile swim in my favourite river, the Thames. I'm taking the opportunity to collect sponsorship for the Rivers Trust. 

As a regular river swimmer I'm horrified by the lack of control over the discharge of raw sewage and other pollutants which damage our rivers and their flora and fauna. Our current government needs pushing to fulfill promises made last year to properly regulate water companies' discharges, at a time when urgent action is needed to protect and conserve rivers for wildlife and humans. 

The Rivers Trust champions the importance of healthy rivers by sharing knowledge online, in schools, and through local groups. It regularly organises local events to bring people together in communal conservation activities. Its recent State of Our Rivers Report https://www.theriverstrust.org/key-issues/state-of-our-rivers tells you about the many issues impacting your local river. 

I'll be grateful if you can make a small donation, but whether you do or not, please consider lobbying your MP to legislate effectively for clean waterways and hold the polluters to account. Thanks for reading!