Hello everyone! My name is Tim Grimes and in August this year, I'll be taking on the ultimate personal challenge of swimming the English Channel.

Since first taking part in the Plymouth Breakwater Swim in 2016, I've been searching for ever-increasing challenges, and this is the culmination of that journey ( or is it). 

As the swim draws nearer, people have been asking me which charity I'm swimming for, and I'm thrilled to finally announce that I'll be raising money for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). It wasn't an immediately obvious decision, but I quickly had a moment of realisation that supporting this charity would not only help support the millions of people who suffer with PoTS and are newly diagnosed with it, but more so it’s a homage to one of my nearest and dearest who suffers severely with this condition.

She's struggled with severe PoTS for some time and has truly been through grim after grim experience with it, yet despite that she's always been there to help me during various rough times over the years...So this one’s for you 'OB'! And although swimming for 12 hours solid will be a walk in the park compared to the struggles you have faced, I’m almost certain I will do it with a lot less grace and courage.

Every donation will make a real difference to those in need, and I would be incredibly grateful for your support. I have personally funded everything for the actual swim so everything really is going to PoTs! Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for your generosity in supporting this amazing cause.

If you are unsure what PoTS is, here is a little crtl+c to give you an insight…. Essentially, PoTs is when your heart rate increases very
quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down. 

Certain symptoms of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) happen when you stand up and get better when you lie down, such as:

• dizziness or light-headedness
• fainting or almost fainting
• noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• shaking and sweating

You may also get other symptoms, such as:

• problems with your stomach or digestion, such as
  feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and tummy pain
• headaches and problems with your sight, such as
  blurred vision or tunnel vision
• your hands and feet looking purple – this may be
  more difficult to see if you have brown or black skin
• weakness and extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• problems with thinking, memory and concentration
  (brain fog)

Some people get away with mild symptoms, while for others
(as I have seen first-hand) it can have a massive impact on their everyday lives.