I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) in February 2021 and I recently finished 15 months of targeted treatment.

It has been quite a journey but with lots of support from my lovely family and friends I am pleased to move on and try to get back to “normal” - whatever “normal” is!

I first became aware of CLL Support when my haematology consultant handed me a booklet at my very first appointment after diagnosis. Since then CLL Support have been brilliant in many ways but particularly in helping me understand the type of cancer I have, how to cope with it and the options available for treatment. Getting in touch with other CLL patients through CLL Support has provided me with a knowledgeable and caring community.

Prior to my diagnosis I was pretty fit and active but as my health deteriorated I was no longer able to do all the activities that had become part of my everyday life. However, as my treatment progressed I wanted a target to aim for so that as my health improved I had something to work towards. Open water swimming had been my favourite activity so I looked for an event that I had not previously completed that looked fun but was a vaguely realistic goal to achieve. Previously I had completed the Bantham Swoosh which is a 6km swim down the River Avon in Devon. I came across a slight variation of this swim called the Bantham Boomerang which involves swimming upstream from the mouth of the river with the incoming tide until the tide turns then swimming back to the starting point. The swim distance I estimate for me will be between 4km and 6km (maybe further! 🤔) depending on how I’m feeling on the day and consequently how hard I swim to get up the river on the incoming tide before it turns.

I want to raise as much money as possible for CLL Support as a thank you to the organisation but also to help them provide assistance, support and guidance for others who get diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. Please consider sponsoring me and I will be extremely grateful for whatever you are able to donate.

Thank you.

Mark

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