Armed with the knowledge that physical activity may help to
me keep the cancer at bay, as well as being the sort of person who needs to
something to work towards to stay motivated. I was presented with a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.
In the Autumn of 2016, 20 years after my amputation, I swam the equivalent of The English Channel
in the pool to raise money for Aspire, the Spinal Injury Charity. I undertook
this challenge to help get fit again after an ankle ligament reconstruction and
the 5 months in a cast that followed. I was filmed by Calendar TV and one of
the staff at Aspire saw the footage and approached me to be part of a Relay Team
for Summer 2018. There would be an assessment day in November 2017. Great I
thought then 2 weeks later our world caved in and I was diagnosed with stage
III aggressive breast cancer.
As you know I then went to hell and back during the cancer
treatment and couldn’t even get into a pool, mainly due to the various central
lines I had poking out of my body during that time. So when Autumn 2017 came around
I hadn’t even finished my radiotherapy and I was invited along to the Assessment
day. I explained what had happened in the intervening period but was still
encouraged to attend. They told me I didn’t have to do the timed swim but not
only did I end up going but I did the swim (but didn’t want to know the time as
I was, for good reason, totally unfit!).
I was so pleased a couple of weeks later when I was invited
to join a team. Five complete strangers at the time, who, hopefully between us,
will complete the 22 miles from Dover to Calais in August 2018. We have now
met, and swum (in exceedingly cold water!) and been named ‘The Hammerhead
Sharks’.
Many (should read, most) of you will think I’m crazy and yes
maybe I am. Not only do I have problems with both legs but I’m going to be less
than a year from finishing breast cancer treatment. But I’ll never know what I
can achieve unless I try. I am of course going to badger you all for sponsorship!
On which note please follow this link to learn more and do exactly that 😊
It really is for a brilliant cause, to help those with
spinal injuries get back to work, independent living or sport. Their strap line
really caught my attention ‘From injury to independence’. I could really relate
to it as I’ve had to battle my way back from a similar place on more than one
occasion. Also the importance psychologically of doing so for the disabled
person.
So training is well underway and roll on summer, at least
the water will be a bit warmer!! I will continue to blog through the challenge
so keep your eyes peeled. In fact read all about it in my dedicated blog www.mychannelchallenge.blogspot.com
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