I was lucky enough to learn to swim as a child and have since taken it for granted.  Through the recent taking up of Open Water Swimming, I have met and become friends with a few disabled swimmer and we all have the same thing in common; we can swim.  In fact one particular lady was my inspiration to push myself to see what I could actually do; I had just completed my first mile whilst she had just completed a 2 mile swim...I was in awe.

Swimming should be available to all and must be considered a basic life skill that could easily save your life, and in many moments give you some relief that the pressures that life brings.

If a disabled child can learn to swim from the money raised from this event, then job done...but lets make it more than one!

My participation in Team JustKeepSwimming (very apt as I have Dory brain!) will be to swim a minimum of 3 x one hour stints, but I hope to do 4.  If all goes to plan I hope to make that 8k for me.  Best get some fresh flap jacks in :-)

Now the bit from the charity (more eloquent that this egiot!)

The first splash. Holding your breath. The echoes of laughter. The wet hair. Lifted spirits. The joy of gliding through water. The smile that lasts all day.Swimming is like nothing else. The skills you develop, the confidence you build and the joys you feel are all universal. Yet access to swimming in the UK is not.Level Water use the power of swimming to improve lives forchildren with disabilities. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn to swim and fall in love with the water.