One year on from Dad dying of an aggressive brain tumour I will be swimming 2.5km in the sea in his memory to help others with the disease.

Dad was diagnosed with an aggressive Glioblastoma on 20 September 2024. He was given three months to live and died two days before Christmas on December 22. I miss him greatly.

Dad wasn't one to rest on his laurels and we used to joke that 'if you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room'. In that spirit, I'll be swimming from Studland to Old Harry's Rocks on September 20, 2025, to raise money for research into brain tumours, which kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

I couldn't swim more than 50 metres in January without needing a rest. And open water swimming in the ocean is a bit daunting.

But it will be worth it. To date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this and that's why I'll be fundraising for them.

After swimming lessons each Saturday morning at 7am since January, I can now swim 1,500m. But there's still a long way to go!

It's not been easy. Especially the days when grief lays heavy. But swimming for such a good cause has become such a great motivator. And I look just swell in my pink flippers and swim hat.

Help spur me on with a donation of whatever you can afford. It's all welcome and will help make a difference to others lives 🙏