Fundraiser for GB Deaf Swimming

Transcript of video clip.

Hello, I would like to let you know what I have been doing this year. I am honoured to be asked to be the Team Manager for Great Britain Deaf Swimming for the Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan in November this year. It is really exciting. There will be approximately 10 swimmers in the team plus two coaches going to Japan.

The swimmers have worked really hard. For those who do not know much about swimming, the swimmers have been incredible, possibly training 5-7 times a week for 1 to 2 hours each session plus travel. Some swimmers travel for one hour to the pool each way. They also have full time jobs or full time education in schools or colleges/universities. They are amazing and it is like having two full time jobs - education/work and swimming. It is truly amazing and I have my hat off to them.

The swimmers themselves have to fundraise themselves to go to the Deaflympics. The coaches and team manager are also self-funding. It is a lot especially when we have busy lives as well as training. It is tough on the younger swimmers and I want to do something to support those young swimmers.

I have been self-reflecting and I admit that I am not fit. I want to try and get myself fit to lead the team. The swimmers are training and are fit and I want to do the same myself. I have been watching what I am eating and managed to lose a stone. I will continue to do this and I was fortunate to have a place in the London Marathon through the ballot. I was offered this place last year and I was so indecisive about whether to do it. I have run 4 marathons in the past - New York brilliant, Brighton, Edinburgh (my home city) and lastly recently - well not that recent a while ago Athens which was the original marathon. I have enjoyed them but I have not done the London Marathon! When I got the place through the ballot, I was excited but training for this has been tough - I am trying to train through a mixture of walking and jogging. I am determined to go to London on the 27th April and run/walk aiming to finish it. I will not be aiming for a personal best like I did previously - I am not young anymore! I am determined for those swimmers so I am asking if you have any spare money. It would be good if you could contribute to GB Deaf Swimming for the Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan and to reduce the burden on fundraising.

We all are grateful for the Platinum sponsorship from Sign Video to UK Deaf Sports for all Deaflympics GB athletes. However, it is not enough to cover the full costs. We need to raise more funds to attend Tokyo, Japan in November.

Thank you for watching and I will update on my progress. I am looking forward to the challenge.