My friend's granddaughter, Sophie, was born with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN). CMN is a rare condtion where babies are born with dark birthmarks that can cover 80% of the body, and that can also grow internally and in the worst cases can be fatal.

Caring Matters Now is the UK charity supporting those affected by CMN, and this year it is celebrating 25 years since its formation. It does amazing work to support people that have CMN and their families, to raise awareness of the condition and to fund research - most recently research to find a cure.

Some of you know that I have a mobility disability and suffer from chronic pain and fatigue as a result of a serious back injury after a fall in May 2010. In May 2021 I retired from work on medical grounds because of this.

One of my goals for retirement was to swim regularly as it one of the safest exercise regimes that I am able to follow. I always wanted to do this but it was impossible whilst I was exhausted from managing my pain and medicine side effects alongside a full time Senior Management job at Imperial College London Library. I finished work on a Friday and swam 18 x 25m lengths on the following Monday and I've stuck at it ever since then whether I feel like it or not.

So here is where you come in! It's cold now and I need some pushing to keep going with it through the cold weather.

During March I am pledging to do at least 500 x 25m lengths which is 12,500m (linking to CMN's 25th anniversary).

With your help I want to raise as much money as possible for this hugely important charity. Any donation no matter how small would be welcome.

Thank you, Mic (also known as Flipper)