Harper’s Solent Swim 💙

On 20th September 2026, just 12 days after her 12th birthday, Harper will be taking on an incredible challenge – swimming approximately 3 miles across the Solent to the Isle of Wight from the mainland, raising money for the Ian Pratt MND Foundation.

This is so much more than a swimming challenge for Harper and our family.

Harper’s grandad, Steve, sadly died from Motor Neurone Disease in 2013, a year before Harper was born. Although she never had the chance to meet him, she has grown up hearing all about him and knowing how much he meant to our family.

But Harper’s connection to this particular event has another very special family link too.

Harper’s “Gramps” Tony – was a supporter of the MND charity and became instrumental in developing the Solent swim into the fundraising event it is today.

Over the years, the swim has gone on to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity and for families affected by MND.

So for Harper to now take her own place in the water feels incredibly special.

Harper has always loved being in the water. She is a competitive county swimmer and spends countless hours training in the pool, but swimming three miles across open sea is a very different challenge! She’ll have to contend with the cold, waves, currents and everything else the Solent decides to throw at her.

And she has set herself a pretty amazing goal…

At just 12 years old, Harper hopes to become the youngest girl ever to complete the crossing as part of this challenge.💙

She won’t be completely alone out there either… Her dad, Tom, will be alongside her for the entire crossing as her support kayaker – although Harper will definitely be the one doing the hard work!

There is something incredibly special for our family about seeing Harper take on an event with so much history behind it: swimming in memory of the grandad she never got the chance to meet, taking part in an event her Gramps helped develop, with her dad alongside her every stroke of the way.

Every stroke Harper takes will be for Grandad Steve, for everyone currently living with MND, and for all the families affected by this devastating disease.

At only 12 years old, swimming across the Solent is a huge undertaking, and we are unbelievably proud of her for wanting to use something she loves to help other people.

💙 Please support Harper’s swim

If you are able to, we would be so grateful for your support. Every donation will make a real difference to the **Ian Pratt MND Foundation**, helping to support people living with MND and also funding vital research into finding a cure for this terrible disease.

Even the smallest contribution will help carry Harper through the toughest moments of her swim and remind her why she is doing this.

If you’re not able to donate, simply sharing her page would mean the world to us.

💙 For Grandad Steve. For everyone affected by MND. And for every stroke to make a difference.

Thank you so much for supporting Harper.

Go Harper! 🏊‍♀️💙