Cancer Research UK is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in the world and will stay at the forefront of the global fight against cancer. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer. All of us can support the research that will beat it. 

Marie Curie is here for people with any terminal illness, and those close to them from diagnosis to bereavement. Their nurses and healthcare assistants support families directly across the UK. Their free support line can help with any question about end of life and they campaign for structural change and fund vital research that improves end of life for everyone. 

On 26-28 April, thousands of swimmers will be heading to over 400 pools across the UK to raise money for these two amazing charity partners. Together we can really make a difference.

At the start of the year I made the decision to get back in the pool. So I took myself down to my local pool, got in the water, swam three lengths and left pretty defeated. I also threw up on the walk home, but we’ll skip on past that. Having spent too much money to give up so soon I went back a couple of days later and tried again. This time not eating beforehand. Was I like a fish? No, but I was a little better than I was before. I made it to four lengths. I decided to set myself the goal of being able to swim 1km (40 lengths) by Easter. What started out as three sessions a week quickly moved to four then to five or more in a week. I’ve gotten better and better with each passing week so it made perfect sense to sign-up to swimathon 2024 and build on my original goal by adding an additional 500m!

So, be sound and chuck us a score, give us a tenner, bung us a cheeky fiver, donate a quid or sure even patronise me with 50p! It all goes to causes that help treat illness, support those that are dying & their families and an organisation that’s helping to promote a hobby that is open to all ages & a vast range of abilities, promoting a healthy, happy, long life.

Thank you for reading this, your support in this will be greatly appreciated!