My Nan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007. By 2008 she had completely forgotten the home she and my Grandpa had enjoyed in their retirement and had to move into residential care where she lived until she died in January 2019.

Nan had always been a busy person, always on the go, involved in many things, swimming a mile a week well into her 70s. She had always been a huge part of our lives and I have very fond memories of her during my childhood and into my late teens.

However, as with most dementia sufferers, Nan's personality changed significantly and as time progressed her decline increased significantly and in the last couple of years she lost the ability to communicate in meaningful words.

I am giving myself not just one but two new and not insignificant challenges to raise money to help people who, like Nan, are so cruelly affected by this horrible and heartless disease.

In September 2019 I will be swimming the 2 mile Swim Serpentine in Hyde Park, the venue for the open water swimming in the London 2012 Olympics.

Not content with this, in April 2020 I will be running the London Marathon and so (having already ridden the Ride London 100 in 2017) will complete the London Classics !

Now I am a reasonably good swimmer but have never swum in open water before and I only completed my first ever 5K run in March this year so this is quite a personal challenge!

I need to raise at least the minimum sponsorship of £2,000 for Alzheimer's Society for giving me a place on their marathon team but would really like to hit my personal £3,000.

There will be fundraising events and a LOT of training going on so get ready to be bombarded with updates and feel free to come and support me as I train or at either of the events!