I'm Helen and I'm fundraising for Cancer Research UK in memory of Luke Howliston.

Luke died aged 43 in March 2023. Even typing that doesn't make it seem real. People who knew Luke, probably understand what I mean by that. He was the very definition of larger than life. His battles and use of swimming can be found here in one of his brave, honest and wonderful posts https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/swimming-through-cancer-luke-howliston/

I met Luke at university and will never forget his energy, his smile and his warmth. As one of our friends recently said on meeting him 'Luke was easily the most charismatic person in the room. Super chatty, super blonde, super southern.'

I messed up my ankle in 2011 and can't do much in the way of weight bearing exercise so swimming is it for me. I've been trundling along doing the 1/2 mile at the Great North Swim for a fair few years...and this year, I thought, it's time to try for the mile again. Y'know kind of 'what would Luke do?'

I've put a pretty ambitious target on this because, well people shouldn't be bloody dying in their 40s. I'm going to mention another name here too....Ricky de Wet. He died in very similar circumstances almost a year to the day earlier than Luke. He was 42. I went to school with Ricky and he was the reason I got all my Duke of Edinburgh awards. That sounds hyperbolic, but I honestly think it's true. Ricky showed me I was more than just a classroom boffin. I could do other stuff and that belief and encouragement has stayed with me for life. It's definitely helped me push through the harder times, like the ankle, and other stuff - that is for another day.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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