I have been a regular volunteer for St Ann’s Hospice for the last 8 years. It is the highlight of my week and a privilege being able to help the patients and their families. I see it for myself how hard all the staff work to care for patients and their families and it is absolutely incredible. The whole team clinical and non clinical are fantastic. So I know first hand how much we need and must do our best to help this hospice. Lets face it you never know what is around the next corner. You may need it or a family member or a friend one day.

St Ann’s Hospice at Little Hulton is always grateful for donations to make our hospice even better. It relies on these donations to offer the service to operate. So I am asking you if you would please sponsor me. I will be grateful for any amount.

So for the last 12 months I have been putting myself through my paces open water swimming. The reason I didn’t put a page out sooner is because in my own mind I needed to complete my challenges before I asked you all !

It has been a really tough twelve months training. And in that time I have been involved with two relay teams and completed two solo swims.

The first relay was a team of three called the Jersey Sea-Sters. We swam 45 miles around the island of Jersey in 10 hours 28 minutes. It was a great experience and terrifying swimming through jellyfish alley.

My second relay was a team of four called Neptune Ninjas. We swam the English Channel to France. That took us 12 hours 18 minutes. It was in 15 degrees in the water and cold. I was stung by jellyfish and suffered cramp ! Every time I swam I was terrified. But when you are part of a relay team you cannot give up. I swore to myself when someone suggests a challenge again I must think about it !!!!

Then I went on to swim Ullswater in the Lake District. This is second biggest lake in the UK. I swam seven and a half miles end to end. This took me four hours 36 minutes non stop.

My last challenge was to take on the big one Lake Windermere. Lake Windermere is ten and a half miles end to end. So I entered the water at Fell Foot Jetty and swam my arms off till I reached the other end. I reached the opposite end in six hours ten mins and got out smiling !

I have trained in some poor conditions and it’s been tough. But I did it ! So please make it worth it for me and give what you can. Whatever amount big or small they are grateful and so am I !!!

Thank you

Nic x