In June 2027, I'll be swimming over 3 miles of open water in New York City as part of the Velindre Cancer Charity Statue of Liberty Swim, taking on both the 1-mile loop around the Statue of Liberty and the 2-mile crossing of the Hudson River, alongside my Hugh James colleague Aaron Gwyn.

I only learned to swim properly at the start of 2025, being unable to swim any real distance, and certainly not 25m of a shallow pool. I'd taken up triathlon and open water genuinely terrified me. Eighteen months on, I'm training for two open-water swims in one of the world's busiest harbours, not because the fear is gone, but because I decided it shouldn't be the thing that stops me.

I wanted a challenge that would properly test me, both physically and mentally, while raising money for a cause that matters. Velindre Cancer Charity provides vital care, treatment, and support to cancer patients and their families, funding everything from clinical trials to specialist nursing care and emotional support at some of the hardest moments in people's lives.

This follows a spinathon Aaron and I completed in July 2025, cycling 193 miles from Cardiff to York in under six hours and raising over £600 together, so we know what a bit of shared stubbornness and a good cause can achieve.

Any support you can offer, whether a donation or just some encouragement along the way, means a great deal as I take this on. Thank you