Back in October my lovely godson Micah (13yrs) was diagnosed with leukaemia. After an intensive course of chemotherapy over the last six months the great news is there are currently no detectable cancer cells in his body. Nonetheless Micah still has to have “maintenance” chemo for at least another two years. It’s going to be a long journey, but his spirit is positive and he has a wonderful family around him giving him all the love and support he could wish for.

I wanted to connect with Micah through his journey, by pushing myself, alongside him, towards something positive and beneficial. Hence I’ve decided to swim the equivalent of the English Channel – 21 miles – in our pool on Saturday 27th July, the day before my 65th birthday. The pool is an "Endless Pool" which means I swim on the spot against a current. In this way various (complicated) calculations enable me to measure the distance.  Micah is coming to monitor the swim and help with all the maths !!  I expect it to take me approximately 11 hours, but time will tell, literally...training is underway and going pretty well, so I’m keeping everything crossed I can make it on the day.

Dear friends Pip and Barb have also joined in and will walk 21 miles at the same time, finishing at our house on the day.

There will be a BBQ and party on Saturday 27th from 4pm till late. We’d love you to join us  so we can celebrate (if that’s the right word!) with family and friends. Accommodation is available locally, or you are welcome to camp and pitch a tent on the land if you prefer.

Around the same time Micah was diagnosed, the war in Gaza started and over the next few months it became very evident that Micah was getting all the necessary treatment he needed without fear or favour, while children in Gaza are suffering beyond belief, with little or no access to medical care or support services during this terrible crisis. For this reason, one of the charities Micah and I have decided to support is Doctors without Borders, otherwise known as Médecins Sans Frontières, an international independent medical humanitarian organisation providing medical assistance to people affected by conflict, already doing amazing work in Gaza under extremely dangerous and difficult conditions.

Micah has also chosen a local charity in Bradford, the Anchor Project, which supports the most marginalised, vulnerable and isolated people in inner-city Bradford, including refugees and asylum seekers. Micah has met children who have had to cross the English Channel and ended up in Bradford and sees how important it is for them to feel welcomed and safe once in the UK, which is why he chose the Anchor Project.

If you’d like to support us we’ve set up a Just Giving page for each charity (see the links below) to enable donations to whichever one you choose.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and please help us to fundraise for these amazing organisations.

And finally, please let us know as soon as you can if you intend to join us on Saturday for the bbq, party, or camping, so we can organise catering etc. via Viv’s mobile 07967 626644 or email vivyy@hotmail.co.uk.

Hope to see you there!

Love from Micah and Viv xx