Ribbons for Rememberance

Someone I met on my SwimTrek trip in April will be attempting to swim the channel for the third time this weekend, exactly five years after her first crossing.

That alone is an amazing feat. However, her second crossing, earlier this year, took over 4 and a half hours off her time to swim to France. Then only a week later she completed the round Jersey swim. She also did a relay channel swim just a couple of weeks ago. And now she’s off to France again.

Even more amazing than all of that however, is the fact that during all of these swims she manages to break out of the intense focus that is required by any swimmer to complete these challenges and throw [biodegradable] ribbons into the sea on behalf of anyone that has battled, or lost their battle to cancer.

For Rowdy & Cookie

Even typing this is bringing a tear to my eyes and I have asked Emma to throw a couple of ribbons for me on this swim.

Please visit Emma’s Just Giving page here – https://www.justgiving.com/emma2france2014v2/. And you can track her swim here – http://cspf.co.uk/swim-routes (just select the boat Suva).

Good luck Emma. Swim strong, swim safe and enjoy.

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UPDATE:

Unfortunately Emma had to get out about half-way across the channel, she was in a lot of pain down her left side and the decision was taken not to risk any long-term damage. But despite that (or actually because of it), what an amazing season she’s had, including a solo-channel, a round Jersey swim and a channel relay – and all the fundraising and ribbon throwing. Well done Emma and I hope I get the chance to swim with you next year.

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Cancer, what is it good for?

*Sung to the tune of War by Edwin Starr

As it turns out, it’s pretty good for PBs at the gym.

I’m not trying to make light of this in any way. But today I found out that one of the people I love most in the world is losing her battle to this bastard, Bastard, BASTARD disease. About an hour later I was due to go to the gym. I nearly didn’t, I didn’t really want to, but I forced myself and I channeled my anger on the bike, the weights, the treadmill and in the pool. I got a PB (or close to) on nearly all of them. Guess I was pretty angry.

If you want to read something by someone that really knows about cancer, then read this amazingly powerful blog called My Cancer Diary. You could also donate to the Macmillan nurses.

Okay, sorry to bring everyone down. Here’s my favourite ever YouTube video to cheer you up.

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UPDATE April ’13 – She lost the battle and that doesn’t do much good for your training.

UPDATE Sept ’14 – Now her son has died of cancer too – horrible, shitty disease.