When I think back to my childhood, lots of happy memories involve water! Swimming in the pool on holiday in Torquay every year, splashing in the paddling pool in our back garden and staring out to sea whenever we were near the coast, being mesmerised!

Being able to swim is such a joyous thing and I recently rediscovered my love of swimming at the grand old age of 52 when I heard about a local open water swimming taster session. I loved it so much that I swam Coniston the following year (5.25 miles) and Ullswater this year (7.5 miles). After absolutely hellish weather conditions for the second of these swims, I can’t believe I’ve signed up for Windermere next year but I have! This will be such a challenge for me as I am by no means a “proper” swimmer and am a bit of a plodder but I’m determined to do it to raise money for Level Water.

Level Water use the power of swimming to improve lives for children with disabilities. The money I raise will be used for 1 to 1 swimming lessons for children who would otherwise not be able to access normal group swimming lessons. I remember taking my sister to special swimming lessons at Noel Street baths in Nottingham in the 70s which enabled her to learn to swim despite physical disabilities, and I believe that everyone should be able to experience the magical feeling of being in the water irrespective of ability.

Thank you for reading and I appreciate any support you can offer to help me reach my goal x 💙🩵