I'm raising funds for the charity I helped to found, Long Covid SOS.

We have been sending out a lifeline to people with Long Covid since July 2020. We now need to expand our activities to reach more of the 2 million+ people who have the condition, improve our educational work and continue to be a trusted resource and strong voice in the community.

The Long Covid SOS Take the Plunge campaign was launched because of the benefits many have enjoyed with cold water, due to the way it stimulates the vagus nerve. You can read more here: https://www.longcovidsos.org/post/what-is-the-long-covid-sos-take-the-plunge-campaign 

My challenge is to swim outside, in the British Isles, at a minimum once weekly until the end of the year, if not beyond. No wetsuit planned!

I have already started swimming in the Hampstead Ladies Pond, which on my last visit was down to a fresh 11 degrees C. I have plans to visit Scotland in December, where the sea and lochs await.

Update 5th December: the water in the pond is now down to 6.5 degrees!