Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Starting on the 21st of january, I will be completing 6 events ranging from ice swimming to open water distance swimming and running.

PHISH on jan 21st is a non wetsuit cold water swimming gala where i intend to compete in all the categories, ending with a 1km swim in temp of sub 5c.

March 12, I will be running in the silverstone half marathon.

June 10, I will be running and swimming in the middle distance great north swim/run. a mixed distance event of 4km swim and 15km run.

july 9, I will be running the 3 spires challenge, a local 10k cross country event.

Sept 2nd I will swim the length of Coniston water in the lake district. About 6 miles ish.

sept 10, I will swim the Dart 10km, a challenging non wetsuit river swim event.

Oct 7th, I will swim the Hurly Burly, very challenging 10k upstream estuary swim from Barmouth in North Wales, into Snowdonia. This is the first time this has been done and there are lots of unknowns here, including shallow water, obstacles, and the tremendous force of incoming tide. EEEK, I hope to tell the tale next week.

I will be swimming this non wetsuit in water at around 13C.

After a strange sort of year physically, I am determined that this year I will renew my enthusiasm for the physical things, which have always been a massive part of who I am, and to give myself a reason to do them and to finish them no matter how I feel or whatever difficulties I encounter. 

I know that I have to make many changes in my own life and future plans, possibly even a change of career path, so as a thank you to all the wonderful people and children who have made such a difference to my life, I have chosen Frankwise school as my charity.

I have worked at Frankwise school as a teaching assistant for nearly 16 years now, and I work with children who have very challenging lives. I have seen many pupils go through the whole process from nursery, and growing up into young adults. The school has opened my eyes to the difficulties many families face in society. Difficulties which hadn't even crossed my mind in mainstream life. When I saw people in the street with physical and mental challenges, I didn't know how to react or communicate, so I turned away and ignored them. Since working at FWS, I have discovered that all children/adults with learning difficulties or physical conditions, or both, have a unique personality and a right to be treated as everyone else in society. Once the communication barrier is broken, then the true person comes out and can be helped to live as normal and fulfilled a life as possible. Frankwise school makes this happen. Please look at the website and explore what we do.

http://frankwise.oxon.sch.uk

http://frankwise.oxon.sch.uk/friends-of-fws/

The friends of frank wise work tirelessly to raise funds for many things for the pupils, from buying the schools minibuses to arranging trips and residential trips, as well as funding items for the classroom and resources needed for mobility and education. 

I will activate this page in january, and add photos and details of all events as they happen and and any extra ones i may chuck in. I'll remind those who haven't dipped in their pockets to do so.

Thank you everyone.

Raf.