Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. It's safe and secure and Gift Aid is claimed on all donations.

You may know that I like to swim, but generally shorter distances; mucking around in the Thames etc. So 10km is a huge challenge. By Sept 22nd the water will be 13C - 15C so quite chilly. I hope to complete the 10km in 3-3.5 hours but simply finishing will be fine. We will swim with the tidal current from Totnes to Dittisham.

I am a very confident swimmer but on a couple of occcassions have randomly experienced anxiety in open water, so the challenge is not only a physical one.

I am swimming in memory of my dad and to raise money for UNICEF. Dad helped me with my first school project about the charity 'WAR ON WANT' when I was 10-11 years old. I was impressionable but he helped me understand the importance of charity, and made me aware of suffering in Africa, without scaring me. I am so grateful to him for this, and it seems fitting to honour him by taking on this challenge and to raise money.

UNICEF work worldwide to protect children in all areas from emergenices, Aids, water sanitation, education, to longer term projects. They are a really worthwhile charity. For more information on the swim and on UNICEF see the links below:

Any donation is sent directly to UNICEF's head office in New York and distributed worldwide.

http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=events&s=&id=69

http://www.unicef.org/whatwedo/index.html

Thanks again - any donation will be greatly appreciated

Phil