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Swimming 100K of Scotland's open water... why? 'Why' the most used response when I tell people of my venture. To my friends and family I am the person who they tag in 'cold person' memes and make jokes about being cold in the height of summer. So why choose to open water swim - in Scotland? A question I frequently ask myself as I lower myself into the icy waters of Stonehaven Harbour. 

The truth is... for years my body seems to have dictated what I can and can't do and for the large part of my life it seems to have erred on the side of 'can't.' Swimming in the open water has proved to be a huge challenge for me mentally and physically but at the same time I have felt an overwhelming sense of awe at what I have been able to push my body to do. I know that due to my condition this may not always be the case and so while I can, I will continue to immerse myself in icy waters in the hope of raising awareness of this debilitating condition - endometriosis. 

This challenge would not be possible if it weren't for the support, encouragement and training I have received from one of my fellow 'Girls with Gills' - Nik. When I told her of my challenge she agreed to swim with me as often as she could, offer me training, calculate my distances and encourage me along the way. Her support has been invaluable so far and she has since gone that extra mile and agreed to join me on my entire challenge. So together we will be swimming 100K of Scotland's open water. Not only has she agreed to join me on this challenge but she is willing to raise awareness and money for my chosen charity - Endometriosis UK. 

Endometriosis is a condition that affects 1 in 10 women in the UK. That's around 1.5 million women and I am just 1 of them. 

Yet 62% of women aged between 16-24 don't know what endometriosis is. 

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause painful periods but it can also cause so much more than this. It can devastate the lives of women and their families. 

I spent many years believing that I had a very low pain threshold and that I was unable to handle my period in the same way that the majority of women around me did. I had never heard of endometriosis. Even when the pain would cause me to vomit or faint, I still thought this was part of being a woman and that this was the norm. Unfortunately there are still too many women suffering similar side effects, believing this is normal. It is my aim to change this; girls and women should know what endometriosis is, they should be aware of the symptoms, know how to receive a diagnosis and in turn be offered support in dealing with the condition. 

It currently takes on average 7.5 years to receive a diagnosis - a statistic that hasn't changed in a decade.

It's time this changed. 

Thankfully, Endometriosis UK is working hard to influence national governments and healthcare providers to achieve the standards of care and treatment that those with endometriosis deserve.