Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. We're super thrilled to be raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK - and, just as importantly, some of the charity's work involves supporting bereaved families through the grief process which we have both sadly experienced in the very recent past. Cancer is still an incredibly difficult disease to beat: whilst screening for cancers of all types is improving rapidly, there are still many issues to solve both in terms of early identification and effective treatment. Every £ raised will help health practitioners and scientists in their search for more effective treatments and preventive approaches.

Why budgies? Bereavement - especially when it happens so quickly, as with our mums - literally strips you to your emotional core: grief, bewilderment, loss, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, confusion, to name a few emotions. Why swimming? The tide is gradually going out on cancer - but it's a long way from being beaten - hence the distance we're committed to. And the jumps? We're taking a leap of faith that our fundraising, and that of so many others, will one day reap the rewards of consigning most if not all cancers to the history bin.

Both Mark and Mithil are relative newcomers to open water swimming. To compound things further, Mark even broke his left arm in March 2024, so will be swimming with pins and wires in his elbow, plus he already has a titanium right hip! Mithil is going to be doing a bungee jump and Mark a parachute jump wearing budgies only - BIG thanks to Budgy Smuggler UK for sponsoring us with the kit!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast & totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity, so it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time & cutting costs for the charity.