Welcome to our fundraiser, inspired by our beautiful daughter Aliyana.

Aliyana is now three years old and has grown into such an adorable little girl. She radiates so much love, light, and laughter.

Aliyana was born with a rare genetic disorder (10q26 Chromosome deletion) and is characterised as having ‘Global Developmental Delays’. This chromosomal deletion has impacted her core stability, her gross motor skills, her feeding, and her ability to speak. As she grows older, she may face additional challenges such as seizures, impaired cognitive abilities, autism, kidney anomalies, and even heart conditions.

While Nihal and I have always known Aliyana will continue to shine as the most perfect version of whoever she is meant to be, the medical side of this journey has been tough...really tough!

Initially there is a slow and insidious realisation, mirrored with denial in detecting these ‘red flags’ in your child’s development. These red flags that quickly become blindingly obvious in every interaction you have.

We found ourselves engulfed in this relentless cycle of fear, worry, and guilt.

Aiyana’s medical journey affected us and tested us in ways that we are not able to put into words. It tested our marriage, strained our relationship with friends, family, affected our work. There is so much darkness in not knowing if your daughter’s health is going to be okay.

You are told early intervention is crucial, yet faced with year-plus-long waiting lists. You are waiting for the paediatrician, the dietician, the speech therapist, the physiotherapist, the occupational therapist and so on and so on. Ophthalmology, genetics, audiology, ENT… its endless.

You wait for months, and often it is a waste of time. Lost referrals and constant deferrals. Each advice seemingly contradicting the last, no answers but more questions. The emotional toll and the mental strain are overwhelming. You sit helpless while external factors play tennis with your daughter’s health. You feel like you are failing as a parent…. and failing your innocent little child.

You ask yourself do I still have the ‘fight’ in me.

Aliyana has a gorgeous laugh that erupts from deep down inside her. Listening to her giggle has been our elixir saving us from drowning. She is incredibly affectionate and has this beautiful way of cutting through your ‘brave’ façade with love that heals you.

Aliyana continues to prove that we are much stronger than we ever imagined. Her growth and progress are astonishing, a testament to this unbroken mantra to ‘never stop trying.’ For such a little girl, Aliyana embodies relentless determination and an unwavering grit. She has this steadfast mindset and an innate fearlessness to pushes herself every single day to the frontiers of her physical capabilities. I have watched Aliyana countless times rise from setbacks and relentlessly strive to achieve her next milestone, her next inch stone, her next target. Her spirit shines through with every effort she makes.

We often marvel at her progress and say, ‘Close to impossible is her comfort zone.’

Aliyana has inspired and motived us to initiate this challenge and fundraiser, where we too push ourselves to be stronger than we think, trying to find comfort close to impossible. On 10th August Vinay will be attempting to swim the length of Loch Lomond to raise funds and awareness for the incredible charity Playskill. This challenge involves nearly 40 km of open water swimming in 15-degrees temperatures.

Playskill has been a lifeline for our family, and we want to support them so they can continue to be that lifeline for other families. When the NHS was overwhelmed and our medical insurance would not cover the needed therapies, Playskill stepped in. They provided Aliyana with essential sessions of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy, filling the critical gaps in her care. Playskill took the time to provide expertise, knowledge and advice helping us navigate this challenging new reality. They also brought families with children with additional needs together, creating a community of support to help overcome the physical, mental, and emotional toll that weigh on all of us.

The volunteers at Playskill are so caring, they are angels sent down for children like Aliyana. They desperately need your help, just as we were desperate for theirs. Please donate, give all and as much as you can. Your contribution will allow them to continue to do all the truly inspiring work that they do to support families like ours.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this page and read our story, please share it with anyone you know that may resonate with our journey.

Thank you for your contribution and endless support.

With love,

Aliyana, Nihal, and Vinay