So, I think I am probably the most “non-swimming” swimmer in the pack – so why do you ask, have I decided it would be a great idea to swim a half mile in a river? One answer for you, and that is my friend Emma. She said I could do with a new challenge and so here I am having just won a place to swim a half (or even full – crikey!) mile in the River Thames this July…

I can swim granted, but I describe my level of swimming ability to be “controlled drowning” and as such this is going to be one heck of a challenge for me! But then I have a very special little lady in my life who reminds me every day that some challenges are worth facing head on and showing who’s boss.

My daughter Pippa was born at 28+3 weeks gestation back in June 2013 – for those of you not au fait with babies and how long they take to bake, that is 11 and a half weeks too soon.  Babies are supposed to stay put until somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks. Her due date was the 14 September and she popped (quite literally) into the world on the 25 June instead. Scary stuff I can tell you. She was also born in Oman in the Middle East – even more scary given her unexpected arrival. I tried telling her to stay put but my daughter has a mind of her own and decided not to listen to Mummy.

Cue 13 weeks in hospital both here in Oman and back in the UK. Every day she battled to stay alive, to grow and stay with us. She overcame so many challenges in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and with a lot more grace than some adults I know.

And I am so thankful that she didn’t give up… So, when my friend Emma’s idea of a challenge landed on my Facebook Feed I decided to take up the challenge and show my little lady that she isn’t the only one with some fighting spirit in this family!