My name is Evie and thankyou so much for supporting the team River Ribble 24 hour Swim Challenge 2022 and raising money for A Breath For Life Charity. Here is what happened to me

I spent from October 2020 to February 2021 in hospital (with a short break home over Christmas) having 12 operations; initially to save my leg and then numerous skin grafts. Once back with my family in Lancashire I had the enormous task of learning to walk and healing the extensive surgery that had been carried out on my leg and that is when A Breath for Life came to my rescue.

They offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen at higher than atmospheric pressures in an enclosed chamber. This process causes oxygen to be absorbed by all body fluids and by all body cells and tissues, even those with blocked or reduced blood flow. This increased flow of oxygen stimulates and restores function to damaged cells and organs . It is used as a complementary therapy for many conditions including Autism, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Strokes. Many elite sports teams use them to accelerate the healing of sports injuries.

I went 3 or4 times a week for 4 months and during that time I met some amazing people in the chamber. All of whom were feeling the benefit.

In London each one of the treatments would have cost £150 but this amazing Lancashire charity only asks for a donation as they want the treatment to be accessible to all. There is a high demand from people wanting to use the facility and families travel from all over the country to use it, At the moment the tank is in a small building with no facilities for family or carers to wait. The charity want to be able to offer a second chamber but they need a building to put it in and want to provide facilities for supporting friends , family and carers.

My rehabilitation now involves swimming and I will be joining the team in order to raise as much money as possible for this fantastic charity.

Thankyou to all team members helping to take on this swimming challenge and special thanks to Stonyhurst College for providing the facilities