Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Everyone has a story to tell about the NHS. Whilst mine is not that unusual, it is a reminder of the vital service it provides and why it remains so important to ensure it can continue to do so. 

Being parents to young children, visits to hospital are an occupational hazard. However, there are two occasions in particular which demonstrated to me how lucky we are to have the NHS and those who work within it.

They both involved urgent dashes to A&E at different hospitals, once for youngest daughter and another for my eldest daughter. Each time, and in very distressing circumstances, the care, support and treatment my children received was nothing short of heroic. This was particularly so when I saw and heard first hand the challenges the staff were facing in just trying to get on with their jobs.

Such was the level of clinical and pastoral care received from the moment we walked in, through to the after care upon being discharged, I have wanted to, in some small way, show my gratitude for those people who work tirelessly to keep us and our loved ones healthy, often in very difficult and stressful situations. Enter the English Channel…

Yes, this year I’m taking on the most iconic and historic marathon swim challenge - the English Channel. 

With my qualifying swim done in October 2021, and my swim date allocated on 27 June 2022 (my extremely understanding and supportive wife’s birthday no less) I have no excuses not to give everything I have to try and swim that, erm, short (somewhat obstacle strewn) stretch of water between the UK and France.  I’ve got a brilliant support team on the pilot boat, including my brother in law, Aron Kirsh and Callum McDougall, who will be keeping me going when it gets tough, and I must mention my wife again, who has not only tolerated this great undertaking, but has been there in spirit or person throughout. A shout out to my wonderful children as well, who were the inadvertent inspiration for the fundraising part of the challenge. Last but by no means least, the whole challenge wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance, planning and support of USwim Adventure, in particular Karen and Dave Quartermain. From training plans and milestone swims to arranging boat pilots, providing essential kit and the occasional rub down with channel grease, they have been absolutely first class.

So, if you’d like donate to my swim, your money will be going to NorthCare Charity, who do amazing work supporting the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, and in particular the Salford Royal Paediatrics A&E fund.

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