Story
<div>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 16pt;">MY TENACIOUS SWIM</span></em></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Hi All,</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;"> I am pleased to report my swim was successful. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">It took place on 15th march around 10 am local time off the British Virgin Islands at Virgin Gorda</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">My swim was conditional by J.S.T for safety reasons. Therefore, I had a buddy with me and a stand by boat.</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Steve, the bosun of the tenacious accompanied me, he did not assist me in anyway apart from making sure i did not slide under the hull of the ship as the wind was pushing me toward it on the first half of my swim.</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">You will also notice from the video my arm is in a sling .</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Unknowing to me i sustained a broken shoulder due to a heavy fall whilst in New Zealand 1 week before.</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">I only found out when i returned to the UK after x-rays.</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">I wondered why my arm was a bit painful. Anyway, it all adds to the excitement and fun of doing it, my swim was followed by my mast climb.</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Part one</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZer5xvh-qM&amp;feature=youtube_gdata">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZer5xvh-qM&feature=youtube_gdata</a> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <strong>Part two</strong></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVbkGUvNIjM&amp;feature=youtube_gdata" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVbkGUvNIjM&amp;feature=youtube_gdata">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVbkGUvNIjM&feature=youtube_gdata</a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br> <br></span><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all that have donated to the various charity and those that have pledged monies(i hope soon turn into donations)</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Special thanks go to:</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Jubilee Sailing Trust, for allowing me to swim</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Bahrain Rugby Club.</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">The crew of the Tenacious.</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">My pal Jingle's (my buddy for the trip),and his patience with me.</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">The "Tot" club of Antigua (had fun guys & gals)</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; color: #002060;"><br></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Aft Port watch team for the singing </span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Mel’s jumper</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;"><br><strong>But most of all the people who have donated or pledged for the encouraging comments on my justgiving pages</strong></span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;">Apologies for those i have forgotten to thank.</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; color: #002060;"><br></span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br><br></span>Best Regards,<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br></span> Len Thompson<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br></span>email: <a href="mailto:lenethompson@live.co.uk">lenethompson@live.co.uk</a> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br></span>skype: lenethompson<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br><br></span></p>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Hi Everyone, video appeal <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;amp;v=dL0S8nLj3iI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dL0S8nLj3iI</a> </em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Having spent over 26 years working in and around the Middle East and Africa, with only one week from my retirement in Bahrain, I suffered a stroke in July 2009, leaving me paralyzed down my left side.</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>With encouragement from my long suffering wife Patricia, 2 years on and approaching old age fast, I am able to walk short distances with a stick, although I no longer have use of my left arm.</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Being a lover of the sea, in March 2012 I will be flying to Antigua to participate in a 15 day sailing voyage from Antigua to the Bahamas on the aptly named Tall Ship <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Tenacious’</strong>. </em></span></div>
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<div><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><br style="page-break-before: auto; mso-break-type: section-break;"></span></strong></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;">‘Tenacious’</span></strong><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"> is owned by the jubilee trust </span><span><a href="http://www.jst.org.uk/"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;">www.jst.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;">It is a square-rigger ship, uniquely designed to accommodate both able-bodies and physically disabled people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be participating in many tasks on the voyage including swabbing the decks, cooking, setting the sails and helming.</span></em></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><br style="page-break-before: auto; mso-break-type: section-break;"></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Having booked my flight and passenger voyage (TNS 337) I realize it is a good opportunity to give something back and say a big thank you to my friends in Bahrain who helped me and my wife Patricia through a very difficult time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will, therefore, be attempting to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis.</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;"><em>THE CHALLENGE</em></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>I will be attempting to swim unaided around the <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Tenacious’</strong> in open water approx 250 metres.</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>A challenge for able bodied swimmers but with only one functioning arm and limited use in my leg there is a risk I may swim around in circles!<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Some would say I played my rugby that </strong></em></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">way</span></strong><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>!!</em></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em> </em></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Although the swim will be a challenge I am aiming to enjoy the experience of raising money for a deserving cause, and trying out my new Speedos.</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>I will be logging an account of my challenge along with photographs and video to produce an informative account of my time on board as part of<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </strong>the<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </strong>Tenacious’s crew.</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>I hope you feel able to support one of this worthwhile charity and enjoy some entertainment at my expense!</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>T.S.ELIOT</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1.5pt;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Special thanks to: </em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1.5pt;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Herby & The Usual Suspects, Doctor Sammy Gouda of the Bahrain International Hospital,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Annie & Kevan Riley for the use of their pool in Bahrain and France<span style="color: #7030a0;">.</span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><em><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;">Pledge<strong>/</strong>donation forms are available by emailing me, Lenny Thompson at <strong>></strong></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;">tenatiousswim@groups.live.com</span></span><span style="line-height: 120%; font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;"> or</span><span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <a href="mailto:lenethompson@live.co.uk">lenethompson@live.co.uk</a></span></span></em></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Best wishes,</em></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp;amp; color: #7030a0; font-size: 9pt;"><em>Lenny Thompson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></span></div>
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