21 miles. Two ways. One mission: to prove that with the right support, limitations can be removed.

When I was conducting my recent engagement research, I was struck by how many parents, including high-level academics, approached me informally because I am deaf, like their child. They often shared the same concern: worry.

They worry about their deaf child’s education, their future relationships, and the 'gaps' they might fall through. Many of them carry a quiet weight of responsibility, feeling they should somehow 'already know' how to navigate the future, and potentially bridge the communication gaps out there in society for their child.

I want to reassure those families, because you can only do your best with what you know at the time. I saw this in my Mum.

Families are not born knowing how to navigate a different communication style. It can feel quite new, particularly if there are other conditions involved too. If social circles and professional services aren't there to help, families can feel forced to find their own way. It often is a path of discovery, as my Mum found out!

My 21-mile swim of Windermere represents the 'return effort’ that support systems give, whether you find it informally or through formal methods- like that eventual EHCP(!) My Mum remembers the lifeline the NDCS provided in the 80s; they didn't just support me, they supported her. When we support a parent, family or caregiver, we can start to remove the barrier of guilt and replace it with empowerment.

I’m swimming to ensure the next generation of parents doesn't have to swim against the tide alone. I particularly have a passion for those who face multiple moves or changes, whether military children, those in care, or those facing multiple hospital treatments. Communication consistency is so important.

Supporting a parent is the first step in supporting a child. Please help me give back to the organisation that helped me find my language, and my lane.

£24 could answer 4 calls to our Helpline from parents who have just found out their child is deaf, reassuring them they’re not alone.

£44 could provide an online session empowering parents to make sure their deaf child gets the right support at school.

£100 could fund one-to-one support for 3 families, helping them to secure the support they need.