I had originally signed up to the Swimathon back in September 2019, because I love swimming, wanted to get fit again and wanted to raise some money for a charity I used to volunteer with as a teenager.

However, as many of you know in November Gareth's Dad, my wonderful father-in-law Martin, had an unexpected major heart attack, which resulted in permanent heart failure and after fighting really hard in hospital he sadly passed away just a few days before Christmas, when he was also due to retire. He spent his last 48 hours in a Marie Curie hospice close to our homes. His passing is so hard and we are learning how to grieve in different ways at different times- it really has left a massive whole in our family & friends, both near and far, and we miss him so very much. 

In those last 2 days at the Marie Curie we were able to be with him 24/7, and just be together. Martin was a huge family man and being at the Marie Curie for that short time meant that all of us, our children (his grandchildren), were able to spend so much time there with him and in the family room. He was looked after well, treated with dignity and respect and we were welcomed and never felt we had to leave or were in the way, the staff were so gentle.

I almost dropped out of the Swimathon this year, partly because I actually haven't been swimming since September 2019 and partly because I would have mean quite pregnant at the end of March when the event was due to take take place, now a month after having baby Zia, I'm going to give it a go, I know it will be tough, physically and emotionally but I really love Martin.

(The photo is of Martin at the beach- one of his favourite places to be; with my sister-in-law Elizabeth and me in the sea in the background- one of our favourite places to be)

I'll be swimming as much as possibly to completely the 20km as soon as possible! 

Thanks