I kept getting targeted ads to swim 5, 10, 15km for charities such as Cancer Research or Dementia UK. I don’t dispute how vital these charities are, but I want to swim for a cause that’s a little closer to home. I am very fortunate to have a number of friends who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and I want to do something for them. I don’t need to highlight how poorly our government continue to treat the LGBTQ+ community, I want to do my small part to help. We all deserve access to healthcare. We all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We all deserve to have places where we feel safe.

I know that this is a really expensive time of year for everyone so donations of any size are hugely appreciated.

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.