My name is Lucinda. My wonderful husband Ewan and I are parents to two extraordinary boys, Leonardo who is 6 years and Oliver who is 2 years old. 

In August 2022 our family had a life changing moment when our 2year old, Oli became critically unwell with Strep A, Sepsis and a subsequent left leg amputation. He is a superhero. 

After getting to A&E an amazing doctor called Craig Knott along with an amazing team of nurses, doctors and consultants who work in the children’s intensive care ward (6c) saved Oli’s life numerous times in the first 4days of intensive care. Craig also organised and helped transfer Oli in an ambulance for dialysis treatment to Great Ormond Street hospital’s intensive care unit. After a further 3 weeks at GOSH we were transferred back to RLH for Oli’s leg amputation and 3months in hospital on 7c ward. Craig and the intensive care teams visited Oli in his new ward 7c every week. You don’t know how places like Intensive care exist and what all the nurses and doctors go through every single day until your life turns upside down and you need them. They are amazing people who go above and beyond  and we are incredibly thankful to them. 

I’m trying to fundraise for the Children’s intensive care ward 6C at The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel in East London by swimming a mile in an open water challenge at Lake Windermere. Bart’s charity have authorised any donations to go specifically to this ward. This will go towards necessary staff training for dialysis machines and maintaining staff wellbeing  and mental health and any other areas the ward needs support. 

I’m not a brilliant swimmer and this is a huge challenge for me as well as being in cold water. I only began swimming when Oli was in intensive care because the Nuffield Health next to GOSH offered it to me as a space to have a moment away from Oli’s bedside and move the body. It became a lifeline for me and still is, now at Nuffield Health Shoreditch. It is healing and strengthening to be in the water and at the time he was in intensive care I felt like I was swimming for Oli to come back to shore. Ocean and the water has become a symbol in Oli’s life. ‘I’m like the ocean mum - let me flow’.is something he has conveyed to me. 

I’ve recently had one swimming lesson gifted to me by Keeley Bullock, the wonderful Tri For Swim company to support this challenge. In just one lesson Keeley has transformed my breaststroke and has taught me how to use the breath properly - I can now glide a bit more like a fish in the water! 

Please could you donate so I can swim for the Royal London hospital and all the children who need urgent intensive care treatment and support. Oli will have a prosthetic leg this year and I have no doubt one day he will be swimming too. 

We are very proud of both our children who are inspirational superheroes.

Thank you.

Lucinda X

Where / When: June 10th, The Great Swim, Open Water Challenge,  Lake Windermere 

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