Why I'm swimming the Solent

On 22 July, I'll be swimming across the Solent, a couple of kilometres of open, tidal, decidedly-not-heated water, to raise money for the Pilgrim Bandits.

A bit about me. I spent 17.5 years as a Combat Medic in the British Army, with tours in Bosnia, Iraq, the Congo, and Afghanistan. In October 2009, while serving on the front line in Afghanistan with 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards, I was caught in an IED blast. I lost my left leg above the knee, my right leg below the knee, and very nearly the use of my right arm. Years of surgery at many different hospitals and a long stint of rehab at Headley Court later, I set about building a life I hadn't planned for, but one I fully intend to enjoy.

The Pilgrim Bandits have been part of that. They've had me on a recumbent bike supporting a ride to Arnhem for the 80th anniversary of the battle, and most importantly, they helped me into a job. People talk a lot about rehabilitation, but honestly, feeling valued and useful again has done more for me than almost anything else. That's what this charity gets right: no sympathy, no cotton wool, just "always a little further."

Which brings me back to the Solent. Yes, I'm a double amputee. No, that's not a reason to stay on the beach. If anything, it's the whole point: having restrictions doesn't mean you can't take on a challenge. You just find your own way of doing it. Mine involves a lot of front crawl and, on the plus side, less of me to drag through the water.

Every pound you donate helps the Pilgrim Bandits push wounded, injured and sick service members and emergency service personnel a little further, too.

Thank you, genuinely.

Now, back to training.

Also, I’m very much looking forward to cake at the end!