Two swims. 45km in total. 15 hours in the water.

This summer, I will take on my biggest physical challenge.

Across the two swims, I’ll be putting one arm in front of the other about 12,000 times. That number is about a tenth of the number of Strokes recorded in the UK each year, so this is ‘strokes for strokes’, and I’m looking to raise money for a great charity.

In June, I’ll be going to Italy with mum as chief support, competing in the Oceanman Lake Orta race, a 14km traverse across the lake (or for those that struggle to picture it, about 5 hours of swimming!)

A month later, there’s no race, no event, I’ll just be in France with the family. In a place that’s so close to my heart, I’ll be swimming 31km (~11 hours) around Lake Sanguinet in France.

Dad was born on the 31st. The distance is for him. We’ve been through a lot as a family, and it just fell into place that we’re all going to be together in what has been such a special place to us, for the last time this summer.

The motto is simple: Stay Here. Be Now. In training I sometimes get bored, think I’ve taken on too much, or convince myself to back out. But I know my ‘why’, and the motto reminds me to stay present and fixed in the moment. Worrying about how far I’ve got left in either swim could break me. Stay Here, Be Now; one moment at a time.

It’s for dad, my family, for my late friend Alfie, for the Stroke Association, and in other ways, it’s also for me.

Any donation - however small - would not only give me a boost as I rack up the lengths in training, will also go towards a fantastic cause to help everyone impacted by what can be life changing conditions.

“Every day, another 240 people wake up to the catastrophic impact of a stroke.

“With strength, determination and the right support, recovery is possible. Help us support all people affected by stroke.

“The Stroke Association is the leading charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families.

“It’s only thanks to the generosity of our supporters and donors like you that we can provide that vital support.”