Nicola Cohen

I’m swimming 8km in March for GOSH Charity! 

I’m challenging myself to swim 8km this March to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity).

8km may not seem like much but it equates to 320 lengths in a standard (25m) pool which sounds a bit more impressive.

I’m certainly no swimming expert and have a consistently poor technique across all strokes. Breast stroke is probably my strongest of the three. I’m now showing some slow improvement in front crawl. My backstroke can only be described as hazardous so I’ve only ever attempted it twice.

I’m just about too fast for the slow lane and I get overtaken when I get the courage to go into the middle lane, but I’m fine with that. I have over the last year rediscovered swimming and will hopefully rise to the challenge and aim to do the 8k in under 5 hours….not continuously, don’t worry-that would be silly. 

Childhood is special. It should be a time of joy, wonder, curiosity and fun. Of making friends, making mistakes, and growing into the adults we become. But it’s also fragile, and sometimes all too brief.

That’s why Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity raises funds to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer. For the children from all over the UK who are treated by Great Ormond Street Hospital every day, for children with rare or complex illnesses everywhere, for this generation and all those to come. Because no childhood should be lost to serious illness.

And with every kilometre I swim, and every pound raised, we’ll be helping to give seriously ill children the best chance and the best childhood possible.

Please help me to achieve my goal by giving whatever you can; no amount is too small to make a difference.

I know a lot of these emails are coming around so if you can donate £5+gift aid that would be very much appreciated by this very special hospital which does so much good for children and their families. 

Lots of love 

Nicola xx