In late June 2011 we were looking after our grandchildren and watching my son in law and daughter entering the lake to begin their mile swim for a cancer charity. They were not alone, for the three days of the Great North Swim, from 8am until 4pm, 200 people enter in half hourly ‘waves’ to complete the mile course, over 9000 swimmers take part over the long weekend.

I love swimming and I found myself rather unwisely saying ‘I want to do this next year’, without my knowledge my daughter entered me for a place in June 2012 and my fate was sealed!

My daughter, who is swimming with me, has bravely and uncomplaining suffered from Crohn’s Disease since she was 17; it is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease which lasts a lifetime and for which there is no known cure. It can strike at any age but most commonly begins in young people. Around 240,000 people in the UK have this condition and more are diagnosed each year. So I want to swim on behalf of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, who offer information and support to people affected by these conditions and fund vital research.

I would be so delighted if anyone could offer their support; financially or with kind words and I promise to display the post swim wet suit picture in all its glory.

Many thanks

Val Middleton