I am raising money for Alzheimer's Society to coincide with the release of my single, 'Swim' in order to help raise funds and awareness for their charity.

I am going to swim 5 miles between now and 1st July- eek. Come and join me!

I wrote 'Swim' about my mum after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2022. I always remember that she never learned to swim- it was always something she wanted to do and was planning to attempt one day, but sadly the condition took hold before she had the chance.

I am swimming for her, because she never could and I am swimming for anyone who has this condition or a loved on with it.

I think of that often- how we all must do the things we want to do NOW and not wait. The lyrics of the song are hard to say but easier to sing: 'I want you to calm me down the way you used to do' and 'I call your number- listen to your messages' really put into words how it can feel to be around someone with Alzheimer's.

If you don't know my background, I was a pop artist signed to Warner and then Universal (also wrote songs for Kylie and Rachel Stevens) back in the early noughties who came back to music when some of my tweets about my pop past went viral in 2023 and I ended up singing and writing songs again after 15 years! It's been a crazy ride and I am so grateful to be back doing what I love and working on my new album after all this time.

I miss my mum even though she is still here.

I know that a lot of you will read this and relate to my story. So many of us will be touched by Alzheimer's- parents, relatives, friends. There is a lot of work to be done to destigmatise and educate about the condition and I just want to do my bit to help.

It has been a long, hard journey for all of us to come to terms with mum's changes in behaviour and yet there is still a light in her that will never go out and many happy memories from recent years even whilst she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. That's the truth of it- it isn't the end, merely the start of another way of being and I have been very grateful to have these years with mum, however hard they have been at times.

Please give generously and I really hope you like the song. All donations from my Just Giving will go straight to the Charity and this felt like the best way to raise the most money for the cause. And if you can't donate, just share and let's raise awareness together!

Please stream the single and share it far and wide. Here's the link to my Spotify where you can listen to it- do drop me a follow whilst you're there:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/49DJil4JyZdW8Upoilkfom?si=ntrxgx_wRM6_Xmg_7IXkQw

And I write a regular blog about music, mum and single parent life here that is free to subscribe to. I'd love you to check it out:

https://alexisstrum.substack.com/

Thanks and lots of love,

Alexis

p.s. here are the lyrics to 'Swim'- I hope they bring you peace x