I got another donation!

I got a call from my sister Caroline the other day. I was asleep so I found it very confusing.

"Someone gave Carl at work £5 for your swim. He's given it to me to give to you, but I don't know who it was who gave it to Carl. I've also forgotten if Carl could remember who gave it to him in the first place. Whatever. Even if he did remember, I've forgotten. Basically, I've got a donation here for you from someone"

(She wants to be a doctor. I fear the future of the NHS!)

Anyway, after some investigative work (I tweeted Carl), it turns out the anonymous donor was, in fact, another gentleman who I used to swim with in the evenings. I'm afraid I don't know his name, but I'd like to thank him very much for the donation!!


(I didn't mean it Carli. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful doctor. Love you really xxx)

You're not getting rid of me!

I got an update from British Sugar today. You might remember that they promised to sponsor me earlier in the summer, but couldn't let me know the date until Autumn time. Well yesterday I got a letter from them saying that they will sponsor me £100, which is really fantastic!

So I've now raised almost £1800, including Gift Aid. It's phenomenal!

Thank you to them :-)

This weekend I was also back into the pool to compete for the first time in years and years for the BUCS swimming championships at the national pool in Sheffield. It was wonderful fun but I'm exhausted now!

Is it too early to go to bed?

Fundraising update

Today I was working in the library (which makes me sound very studious, but really I've been putting off the work due in tomorrow for two weeks.) and I receive an email from justgiving. Thinking that it's probably just spam, or something that was caught up in the Internet somewhere, so was sent during the swim but has only just arrived (can that happen??), I wasn't too excited. I then notice it's a donation from a name that I didn't recognise, so it must be a new one (but at this point I was so bored of contract law that even if it was spam it would have excited me a bit).
It was a donation from Mark Ransom, who'd swum with me a few times. Then I recognised the name!!

So thank you to Mark. I've now raised £1,571.95. I anticipate that this will be the last blog post, but this is now the third post that I've thought that.

Thank you everyone :-)

I got a letter

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me, and thank you to Jacqui for this lovely letter :-)

I'm in the Bury Free Press!! (Again)

:-)

Finished

So yesterday I did my last half mile and what a lot of surprises there were!! Firstly there was a special lane for me and the people who came to swim with me (Jordy, Tim, Carli and George). Then there was a photographer from the bury free press, and then I had a surprise party with all of my friends.

Thank you to everyone who came along (mum, dad, Carli, Hugh, granma, grandad, ursula, polly, Steve, diana, kian, Christian, Joe, Hannah, carl, Josh, Lewis, aiden, Hannah, Jordan, Hazel, Veronica, Jackie, alice, chris, Tim, tim, Tom, Chloe, George, Alison, Lloyd, Rui, jess, Katie, paul, Molly, George, Oscar. I think that's everyone but I was very overwhelmed by everything so sorry if I missed you out.

Ursula and Hugh organised it all so thank you so much to them.

They also made me a video



Thank you :-)

I also worked out yesterday how much I've raised (drum roll please)


£1561.95!!!!

So thank you to everyone who has sponsored me, supported me, kept secrets from me etc.)

I shall not blog as often now. I've still got a few more promises of sponsorship so I'll blog when I get that and will let you know a grand total then.

And thank you to my ruthy who sponsored me yesterday :-)

Day 111

152 today. That means I have 32 more to do and I'd really appreciate it if you came to watch me. It'll be at the leisure centre at 4.30 and I'll only take about 15 mins.

Thank you to Linda for sponsoring me today :-)

9174 down, 32 to go.

Day 110

I've been told to change my plans. Swimming on Friday will actually be at 4.30 rather than at 4.

My grandparents sponsored me some more, as did Megan, so thank you to them :-) I've now only got £74.75 more to raise to reach my third target of £1500.

I've done lots of swimming over the last few days and I've so nearly finished!! I passed 9000 lengths today.

9022 down, 184 to go.

Day 105

So I have 1 week to go before this is all over. I did 150 this morning and 110 yesterday. I've got less than 1000 lengths to go :-) Thank you to Megan for sponsoring me yesterday. 8402 down, 804 to go

Day 103

After 3 months and 11 days, I've forgotten what it feels like not to ache. I've surpassed two fundraising targets and am about £100 away from my third. I've been involved in a video which came runner up in a national competition. Today I passed length 8000 and after tomorrow I'll have less than 1000 to go. It's almost over. Please help me reach £1500 for a charity very, very close to my heart by sponsoring me at www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1. You can also support me for my last half-mile on Friday 23rd September at 4pm at Abbeycroft Leisure Centre, Bury St Edmunds.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, be it emotionally or with donations or even both. I can't thank everyone enough.

8142 down, 1064 to go.

The Real Day 101

I did 140 this morning. I'm feeling very run down so I don't really have much else to say. I don't know about a swim tomorrow. I can afford one day off between now and the end and I need sleep. I'm going to talk to my mummy. 7852 down, 1354 to go

So, what were we saying about me being bad at maths? Turns out today is day 100, not day 101!!!

Day 101

I did 100 today. As I'm reaching the end of my swim, I decided to check my maths, and as you may know, I'm not that great at it (see here, here and here). So I have a spreadsheet to help me. Today I checked my spreadsheet and it seems I have done almost 300 more than I thought. Now, as I'm doing this for charity and everyone has been very generous, I don't want to end up not doing the full distance that everyone has sponsored me to do. So I got my mummy, who is an accountant (selfishly didn't pass on the maths-genes to me!). she checked the formulas on the spreadsheet, and the number that it had said I'd done compared to the number I'd said on the blog that I'd done. She found that all of the numbers agree until the 27th August, at which point I seem to forget a few days' worth of lengths on the blog. From the 29th August until today, there is an almost 300 length difference every day between the blog-length and the spreadsheet-length, the same number every day. So, I actually have less than 1500 lengths to do in the next 12 days!!! I'm glad that, for once, my mistake is going in my favour. It's a great boost. 7712 down, 1494 to go

Day 100

Bloody hell; day 100. 100 days of this. I must be mad!! I did 150 today and 150 yesterday. I now have less than 2000 lengths to go!! Below are the new videos that Ursie made for me. A longer bombers one and an interview with me. 7362 down, 1844 to go.

Update: did 30 this evening. Ursula has finished the videos that she was doing and they are up on YouTube. I'll post them up here next time I'm on a computer.

7062 down, 2144 to go.

Day 98

Did 150 this morning in swim #1. Shall be back in the pool a bit later to do swim #2. It was very hard earlier as I was very stiff after last night but I shall cope!

I haven't managed to embed the new video as I can't find it on YouTube, but I've asked ursula where she's put it and I'll get it up here soon.

7032 down, 2174 to go.

Day 97

Did 150 this evening.

Ursula made another video for me. I'll post it on here for you all to watch tomorrow. She's currently in the process of doing a third that's a bit more swimming related.

Thank you Ursie :-)

6882 down, 2324 to go

I've not got much to say, just been ploughing away at the lengths over the last few days.

Thank you to Jackie who sponsored me on Wednesday :-)

6732 down, 2474 to go

I CAME RUNNER-UP IN THE JUSTTEXTGIVING COMPETITION!!! (Day 90)

130 today, but that's not the big news.

I have won a £200 donation to my fundraising efforts with the video which Ursie made and the Bombers starred in (lets not beat around the bush here, I basically got in the way and agreed with everyone else's suggestions. I'm not particularly creative.)

This video, in case you'd forgotten.


So it didn't get the most views (and I was never really expecting it to, as I entered the competition late and the winning entry got over 5000 views, compared to my 301). But there were two runners up prizes, each winning a donation of £200, which were judged by people from the world of philanthropy, and my video was one of them.

Hugh was on justgiving-watch today, as I was at work and so couldn't check my emails. When I got off shift to see that I had 9 missed calls from him, I immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion (me being my mother's daughter), and I decided that he'd been in a car crash at the paramedics were trying to get hold of me. Thankfully not :-)

So thank you very, very much to my award winning director, Ursie, as well as all of the Bombers (and not forgetting Hugh's mum and Bombers coach, Jill) who took part in the video and have supported me throughout. And especially Hugh who is my support group.

The email which JustGiving sent wasn't just to me, so I have attached it below so that everyone can read :-)

Hi Alex and the Bury Bombers Wheelchair Basketball Club,

Just wanted to congratulate you on being runners-up in the JustTextGiving video competition! Our judges loved the quality and originality of your video entry, which has earned TAG a £200 donation from us!

I’ve also put up a blog post about the winners and added some tips for video fundraising, from our competition judges.

http://blog.justgiving.com/community/justtextgiving-video-competition-winners/

Take care, and well done. Your efforts clearly paid off :)

Cheers,

Tal

The video also gets a special mention in the blog in the judges' tips for video fundraising.


Ross McCulloch: “Involve your beneficiaries where possible, it’s why the wheelchair basketball one worked so well.”

6137 down, 3069 to go.

Day 89

Did 130 today. I'm trying to get in lots of lengths this week while I'm not doing a particularly long working week so that I can catch up on the deficit.

6007 down, 3199 to go (tomorrow I shall be over 2/3!!)

Day 86

Hello everyone!! I did 16 lengths on Thursday (naughty!! But I had a v hard fitness session at staff training and I was soo sore). 140 yesterday (aiming for a little more but I had to play a lovely game of hide and seek trying to find my swimming costume which I had left to dry after my swim that morning and someone put in lost property. My own fault, shouldn't've left it lying around!). I did 100 this afternoon too :-)

5877 down, 3329 to go.

Day 83

I did 100 today, at Newmarket. I feel so dirty!! But it went well and I feel good :-)

5621 down, 3585 to go.

Day 82

So 102 today (Forgot to stop at 100. Would have done 110 but the pool closed) and 16 in my lunch break yesterday when I needed to blow off some steam due to annoying kids!!

I shall be being radical and trecherous and swimming at Newmarket leisure centre tomorrow. I'll actually have to pay for swimming!! On the plus side, I only know 3 of the lifeguards, so there'll be fewer chances to chat like I do at bury.

5521 down, 3685 to go (in exactly one month. I better get swimming!)

Day 80

Sorry there's been a lack of blog for a few days, I've been working lots. But I shan't be working at the pub any more as I'll be getting ready for uni, so I'll have more time.

I've done 100 lengths everyday except yesterday, when I only did 90 before he pool closed.

Today some girls decided to do some swimming with me for moral support, which was great. Thank you to them, though I doubt they'll read this!!

Neil at the pub gave me another £5 today. Thank you :-)

5403 down, 3803 to go.

Day 76

Again I left my yesterday-blog at the sports centre.
I did 100 lengths today, in two parts as my morning swim was interrupted by the fire alarm and as a member of staff (even off-shift) I had to help evacuate in my swimming costume.

This now means I've done over 5000 lengths, and by Saturday I'll have less than 4000 to swim. It's all good :-)

Day 75

So I handwrote a lovely blog for you today after my swim and was going to scan in all three pages of it tonight so you could read it. However I left the paper in my locker at work so you'll just have to wait until tomorrow. I shan't tell you anything else, other than that I did my 100. You shall have to wait.

Day 74

So, this won't be a long one as I wrote one earlier. I did 100 this afternoon after work. It felt a lot better than yesterday :-)

Day 73

I'm back people!! Did 100 lengths last night. It's suprising how much a week off can affect you! I felt like a baby giraffe who hasn't quite managed to coordinate their limbs enough to walk properly. On the plus side, I'm not hurting too much this morning, which I feared I would.

France was lovely, we went to see the Bayeux tapestry, where there were steps to get in, which is a problem as we were with Hugh. So we went round the back and skipped all of the queues :-)
We also went to the Normandy beaches. I was there before, but it was 10 years ago. I didn't really 'get' the war side of it. To me, it was a bit like tellytubby land, with all of the bomb craters and bunkers. This time I got what it was all about.

I hope you're all well. Don't forget to keep watching my video! The closing date is a week tomorrow.

4713 down, 4493 to go

Day 62

Did 60 this morning- not 100 because I did backstroke whereas I normally do frontcrawl.

There shan't be a blog for just over a week now as I shall be on holiday and not thinking at all of swimming (except in the sea)

Toodles xxx

Day 61

Sorry there's been no blog for a week. I've been crazy-busy working and getting ready for our holiday to Normandy on Friday.

So, what have I done on the swimming front this week? I've swum 301 lengths since the last blog, which I'm really disappointed in. I wasn't well at the end of last week, nor today, and Friday and Saturday I was working the entire time that the pool was open.

I did none Thursday (ill), Friday (working) or Saturday (working), 100 Sunday, 50 Monday, 111 yesterday and 40 today.

I'm hoping that the week off will help. I ache all over, especially my back and shoulders. I'm also exhausted with all of this working and swimming. A week away from the pool should do me good!

I also wrote a load of letters and took them in (with Carli's help) to local businesses. Today I got a reply from Denny Bros containing a cheque for £50, which is fantastic. This means that I am 75% of the way to £1500!! Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far, and if you haven't, please can you? You can do it online at www.justgiving.com/alex-mccourt1.

And don't forget to watch my video on the right :-)


4553 down, 4653 to go

Day 54

Disappointingly, I only did 22 today. I got a really awful cramp in my shoulder.

I'm particularly annoyed because I'm less than 300 lengths away from halfway, so I was hoping to get a chunk of those out the way today so that I can be halfway tomorrow, but I don't think that that will be the case.

Days 50-53

Sorry for the silence over the past few days, I've been really busy.
I did 80 lengths on saturday, 100 after work on Sunday, 110 yesterday evening and 120 before work this morning. Todd joked that I should just move in to the leisure centre and I must say that I agree with him!!

Thank you to the Limmer family who sponsored me on Sunday. I'm now approaching £1100 :-D

4230 down, 4976 to go (approaching halfway!!)

Day 49.

130 today.

Please can you sponsor me if you haven't already. You can do it online at www.justgiving.com/Alex-mccourt1 or on your mobile by texting LEXY91 £5 (or any amount up to £10) to 70070. The text itself is free and 100% of the money goes straight to my justgiving total.

Thank you.

3820 down, 5386 to go.

Day 47

I did 120 today. It hurt, but it felt good in that I felt one with the water, which I haven't felt in a while.

Not much else to say, except for the bit about justgiving below.

3690 down, 5246 to go.

I'm on the front page of the Just Giving blog!!!

There's also an article about what I'm doing, which I have copied and pasted below

Shooting for the target

Last month, we launched our JustTextGiving video competition asking you to send us a video of innovative and fun ways to fundraise with your JustTextGiving code. The video with the most views by Tuesday 23rd August gets a whopping £500 donation to their page! Plus, two runners up (who will be decided by a panel of judges) will each get a £200 donation.

As we continue to share with you all of the fantastic entries we’ve had so far, today’s offering comes from Alex. It would seem that whatever Alex lacks in basketball skills, she certainly makes up for in choreography skills if this video is anything to go by. Her video features The Bury Bombers Wheelchair Basketball Club not only show off their skills on the court, but also giving Alex’s text code a little bit of love and exposure with this great routine.

You can check out the video below and if you want to increase Alex’s chance of getting a £500 donation to her fundraising page for The Arthrogryposis Group, share it with your friends and family. Also, if you’d like to show Alex your support, you can text LEXY91 £5 (or any amount up to £10) to 70070 or check out her page at http://www.justgiving.com/alex-mccourt1

——————-

My name is Alex and I’m a student at Keele, as well as a lifeguard and bartender.

I am doing a sponsored swim to raise money for The Arthrogryposis Group, a charity which helps individuals with Arthrogryposis, like my boyfriend. He plays wheelchair basketball, which is more fun to watch than someone swimming up and down, hence my decision to base my video on this sport rather than swimming!

The video itself took us an hour to shoot and an hour to edit and I am mostly using social networks, predominately Facebook and Twitter to promote it.

I have been impressed by the ease of fundraising with the JustGiving resources. Of course the task has been challenging, and JustGiving has made it that little bit easier. Creating the video has been really fun and is a great way to promote what I’m doing, with the added bonus of a possibility of winning a £500 donation. I’ve been involved in lots of fundraising over the years and JustGiving makes it so much easier!!

Day 46

I did 110 today. None yesterday as I wasn't feeling well and felt I needed a day off. It's getting really hard at the moment because I've been swimming for so long and it feels like I'm getting no-where (technically i'm not. I swim in a pool. I just go up and down and up and down!) but my point is that I'm not even halfway yet. But I should be there in not too long. Before I go on holiday in two and a half weeks I hope!

3570 down, 5636 to go

Day 44(?)

Did 150 today and it's really hurting. Good-hurt. I like to challenge myself. But it was difficult as I had to do it in two chunks, with work in between. Psychologically it is very hard to get the motivation to get back in for the second time

Tom sponsored me again because he was drunk and figured that donating by text looked like fun. It is. You should try it. Text LEXY91 £1 to 70070. Thank you :-)


3460 down, 5746 to go

Days 42 & 43

I did 140 today and 130 yesterday. It's really hurting but it'll all be worth it. Thank you to Cat, tim and Jordy who sponsored me today and Ian and jack who sponsored me yesterday :-)
3310 down, 5896 to go.

Mummy knows best

So as you know I was aiming for 200 last night. Mum suggested that rather than doubling my lengths straight out, I build it up, but I thought I'd be fine.

I was wrong. I only managed 120 last night and I'm really aching this morning. Like mum suggested, I shall build it up to 200, rather than just expect to be abled to do it right away

3040 down, 6166 to go

I'm bad at maths.

So somewhere along the lines I've missed out a day in my blog numbering... I'm actually on day 42, and yesterday was day 41 etc.

I'm not very good at maths.

I've also realised that I'm a bit lot behind on my lengths. I'm averaging 71 a day, which is low, but would be alright if I wasn't having a week off on holiday (there seems to be no pool in the town where we're staying in France, otherwise I would swim).

So I shall be upping the lengths over the next 3 weeks. Ideally I'd like to have done the holiday's lengths before I go, but even just being back on track will be good. If I want the former, I shall need to average 210 lengths a day (5.25km, 3.25 miles). If I want the latter, I only need to average 160 (4km, 2.5 miles). I have a feeling it will be somewhere between the two.

Thank you to Hannah who sponsored me the other day. I've now upped my target to £1,250. Please can you sponsor me? You can do it online at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1, or by texting LEXY91 £1/£2/£3/£5/£10 to 70070.

You can also support me without spending any money  by watching my video. This is an entry for the JustTextGiving competition. If my video gets the most views, I shall win a £500 donation. Please share it with all of your friends.



Thank you :-)

Day 40

So I did 100 lengths today.
It was good to have a few days off and have fun with Abi.
I got a letter from British sugar today saying they'll sponsor me in the autumn :-)
I also got an email from Tal at justgiving. They love my video and their going to do a blog about what I'm doing.
And I was in the TAG magazine this month. I'll scan it in maybe tomorrow.

3000 down, 5206 to go

Day 37

I did 80 this morning. Planned to do 100 but I seem to be getting slower and had to dash for a train.

I went to London today to meet my Abi-friend. She's now over to visit for a few days so I shan't be swimming.

She also sponsored me so I've raised over £1000! Thank you :-)

Day 36

So I did manage a swim after all today. 60 lengths. It's a bonus :-)
Thank you to the Banks family who gave me their change jar :-)

Day 35

Ermm... so I forgot to swim today. I was meaning to, but the pool closed at 5 and I only noticed the time at 4:40. Opps!!

I'm also having tomorrow off as I'm working the whole time the pool is open.

Days 33 & 34

There's not that much to talk about which is why I'm not blogging every day at the moment. I'm trying to calm down the fundraising a little now and concentrate on the swimming.

I finished work late yesterday and so didn't get to the pool until 9:40, but managed to do 30 lengths, which is better than nothing. I did 100 today as well, so it's all good :-)

I sent Carli and Ursie to the Bombers yesterday while I was at work to sell some brownies. I opened up the collecting tin today and there was £18.10 in there, so thank you to Carli and Ursie and thank you to all of the Bury Bombers :-)

I also brought home the collecting tin at the Rose and Crown. There was £27.45 in there. So thank you to everyone :-)

So, this means that I have actually broken my target this time!! It's fantastic and I'm really pleased. I'm also only £40 away from the grand-mark, so I'm really pleased :-)

Please will you sponsor me if you haven't already? You can do it online at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1 or by texting LEXY91 £5 to 70070.

You can also support me by watching the youtube video which Ursie and I made (with help from the Bombers again). It's my entry for the JustTextGiving competition, and the video with the most views on the 23rd July wins a £500 donation, so it is a way of supporting me without spending money. Please watch it as much as you can without getting sick of it and share it with your friends. Thank you :-)

2760 down, 5446 to go

Day 32

So this is the blog for yesterday, but by the time I got home, the internet had been turned off, so I am writing it this morning.

I have a few pieces of news today. Firstly, I passed my first year at university and can now go on to my second!! I'm really chuffed.

Secondly, out video entry for the justtextgiving competition is done and up on Youtube. You can watch it here. If my video gets the most views by July 23rd then I win a £500 donation for TAG, so please share this with everyone!



Thank you to the Bury Bombers for participating, Jill their coach for letting me hijack a session and Ursie for filming.

This video doesn't show quite how fab the bombers actually are, so once the competition is over, Ursie and I shall be making a longer video with all their impressive bits :-)

I did 80 lengths last night and boy did it hurt. I got in right after Staff Training, where we'd had to tread water for like a week non-stop, and then we had to swim about a mile underwater. Tough stuff.

2630 down, 6576 to go.

Days 30 and 31

So I'm not being as good as I used to be with keeping this up to date. I promise I'll get better.

I did 80 yesterday. My shoulders were hurting because of the wheelchair basketball, but apart from that, it was good.

Did 100 today. Could have done more, but Luke, Christian and I decided to do time-trials (they're bad influences on me!)

Thank you to Luke for carrying my change jar into town today. It's been deposited in my bank and I shal be writing a cheque this evening.

I'm also going to be filming my advert for the justtextgiving competition tonight. Watch out as I'll post the finished product on here as soon as it's done :-)

2550 down, 6656 to go.

Embarrassing confession time

So I miscounted the donations. I'm actually £12 away from my target. Please will you sponsor me? You can do it at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1, or by texting LEXY91 £10 to 70070.

Days 28 and 29

No swimming this weekend. The pool was closed today and I was at the Bury Bombers Basketball Marathon all weekend. It was lots of fun and I sold lots of brownies (which involved making some at 1am this morning!)

I'm going to take my offline donations into the bank to be counted at some point. This will be embarrassing if I miscounted and haven't actually reached my target yet!!

Thank you to Mr Lloyd who sponsored me today :-)

Day 27

I'VE REACHED MY TARGET!!! I'VE RAISED £956.88 SO FAR!!!

Thank you to Jill and Barry, Hugh's parents, who sponsored me today. I also realised that I forgot to thank my Auntie Ron and her family who sponsored me during the week.

I did my 100 today. It was sore, but I'm getting fitter.

The pool is closed this weekend, and I'm selling brownies to raise money for the Bury Bombers, the wheelchair basketball club that Hugh is a part of. I shall also be playing basketball. It should be interesting!

2370 down, 6836 to go.

I got some letters :-)

I'm now less than £100 away from my goal!!!

Thank you to Ray again, and thank you to Glasswells :-)

Day 26

Did 100 today.
Got a lovely letter from Ray at Cecil and Larter. He's lovely :-)

Going to the seaside with Mr Hugh tomorrow because it's his birthday.

I've got less than 7000 lengths to go!!

2270 down, 6990 to go.

Day 25

110 down today :-)

I wasn't very fast though. But still feeling good :-)

Please sponsor me if you haven't already. You can do it online at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1, or text LEXY91 £5 to 70070

2170 down, 7090 to go

Day 25

I'm just back from the pool. I did 120 today. It felt good.

I'm not sure what else to say- maybe in part because this is the third blog post of the day!

I'm off to bed now. Night night everyone :-)


2060 down, 7200 to go.

I need your help

Right, so, JustGiving, the website which I use for my online donations, launched JustTextGiving last week. It means that people can sponsor by texting a code and the amount they pledge (£1, £2, £3, £5 or £10) to 70070. My code is LEXY91, so if you wanted to sponsor me £10, you'd send a message saying LEXY91 £10 to 70070. The message doesn't cost anything, and the donation is taken out of your credit balance/added to your bill at the end of the month (as applicable).

"To celebrate the launch of JustTextGiving, we are running a creative video competition. Just think of a fun and inventive way of fundraising with your text code. Will you print it out on your running vest? Will you write it on your forehead for a week?! Just watch our video, create a short video response with your idea, and get all your friends and family to view it. The video with the most views by 23rd July will win a £500 donation to their fundraising page and be featured on our blog. Two runners-up (picked by a panel of judges) will win £200 donations too. It could make a huge difference to your charity… and a bit of fun for you!" (From the JustGiving blog: http://blog.justgiving.com/community/justtextgiving-video-competition/)

Now, being competitive as I am (and also wanting to raise extra money for TAG), I'd like to enter this competition.

But the problem is, I'm not particularly creative. I can bake, but you can't really make a video out of that, and also baking cakes in the shape of my code, or icing my code on fairycakes has already been done.

So, I'd like to ask your help in thinking of an idea (I'll also be asking your help to make my video the most viewed, but first things first).

If you have any ideas, please could you let me know? You can email me at justkeepswimming-alexmccourt@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you :-)

I'd also like to thank Ray at Cecil and Larter. I wrote to them last week and he sponsored me £50. I'm now almost 90% of the way to my total, and over £800!! I'm really, really pleased :-)

A bit about TAG

So I found a link to this appeal on the TAG website (http://www.tagonline.org.uk), and I'd though I would share it here. It explains a little bit about what Arthrogryposis is, and what TAG do.

I also managed to embed it all by myself (and I'm not particularly computer literate), so I'm very proud :-)

There was no blog yesterday because one of my beautiful cats got hit by a car and sadly she didn't make it (Emmie, for those who know), and I didn't feel like talking. I still don't really, but the show must go on. She was a happy cat who had a wonderful life and we don't think she suffered.

This picture of her was taken by my Granda while he was visiting last week.


I did 30 lengths, but then other people got in and got in my way and I just couldn't deal with it all. I'll blog again after my swim this evening.

Day 23

No time to swim today. And as I found it so hard yesterday, maybe the day off will do me good. That's what I'm hoping anyway.

The pub today was entertaining. Mostly because I can be a bit dizty. Today, a woman asked for a Carling and lime, so I put a slice in her glass. Turns out she wanted lime cordial. It seems obvious now, but my thought process was that when someone asks for a Coke and lemon you don't put lemonade in it! And also, one has lager and a slice in Corona :-P

(Update 28/9/6/11 one of the regulars came in yesterday and asked for Carling and a slice of lime. I thought she had been told the story and was taking the mick. Turns out that she likes lime in her Carling. So I'm not that silly!)

I'm off on a date with my lovely Hugh, as well as Aiden and Hannah today. It should be fun :-) I don't know where we're going. Exciting stuff!

Day 22

This wont be very long as I'm writing in a rush. I'm off to the pub in a few (I sound like an alcoholic. I'll be behind the bar, not propping it up. Promise!)

Did my 100 after I finished at my pool-work today. It was the hardest physically so far. I'm having a day off tomorrow as I'm working at the pub the entire time that the pool is open, so hopefully I will feel better and faster on Monday.

Thank you to Alex who gave me 50p (although he did originally take a brownie without donating, so maybe he doesn't deserve any thanks) :-P

1910 down, 7350 to go

Day 21

I did my 100 this morning. Again I was planning to do more, but I don't swim very fast when I've just woken up, and I got distracted by the chickens.

I'm making a scrapbook today. Jackie suggested it at the party last night, so I bought one this morning.

If you hadn't guessed, I like my projects!

I also had to track down a copy of last week's Bury Mercury. I had one, but it got left downstairs for so long than my parents threw it away (can't blame them). I eventually found the EADT offices, and they had a mis-print lying around so let me have that :-).

Please will you sponsor me? You can do it online at http://www.justgiving.com/alex-mccourt1 or by texting LEXY91 + donation amount to 70070. Thank you :-)

1810 down, 7450 to go.

Days 19 and 20 and donating by text

I apologise about the lack of the blog yesterday. My Granda is visiting from Edinburgh and I just didn't get a change to write one.

I'd like to thank him for sponsoring me. I'm now within £200 of my target, and 80% of the way there. It's really fantastic :-)

I did 80 lengths yesterday and 100 this morning. I was aiming for more today, but it's just not a fast day today. I'm planning on going a bit earlier tomorrow to get more in (although I am doing another morning session so no promises!).

I've now done the distance of the marathon. And it's only taken me nearly 16 hours. Swimming is no where near as fast as running!

Justgiving have now launched justtextgiving. This is where you can sponsor by text. You send a message saying LEXY91 £5 (or however much you'd like to donate) to 70070. The message itself is free, although you are obviously donating the money you pledged.

I hope that made sense. I'm not very awake!

Anyway, I'm off to go drinking with my family (and 10am you say. I am half Scottish. And a student. It's 5 o clock somewhere)

1710 down, 7550 to go

Day 18

120 today. Feeling goood :-)

Thank you to Tahi who sponsored me today :-) I'm nearly at £700.

1450 down, 7810 to go.

Day 17

I only did 30 lengths today. I got one of those horrible cramps where it's like someone has grabbed your calf muscle and won't let go. I can still feel it now. But this will be awful for my average (which I need to keep up or I'll be cramming in the distance before I go on holiday). So I shall be swimming twice tommorrow, 100 lengths in the morning and 70 in the evening.

I got some sponsorship from Hugh's friend Ross. Thank you so much :-) especially as you don't know me!

And thank you to Rui and his brothers who sponsored me too :-)

1330 down, 7930 to go

Donations update

Thank you to my Granma and Grandad who gave me their coppers in their change jar :-)

Also, I was persuaded to open the tins at the Leisure Centre, and there was £5 in there. So I'm 70% of the way there. Thank you everyone who has supported me in some way thus far :-)

Day 16

Right, so I lost count today. Twice. I know I did at least 90 before the first time (I was singing 'Johnny 99', and so counted 99 for at least 3 lengths). I then started again, assuming I'd only done 90, and I don't know how many more than 20 I did.

So I know I did at least 110, so that is the number I have put for today. (My Dad and Christian thinks that I should put 4, as that's all Christian saw me do. It's not my fault if he's never on pool!)

1300 down, 7960 to go


I've got less than 8000 to go!! (I have to celebrate the little milestones or else I would get completely overwhelmed by the task.)

Harry, I've reached Newport Pagnell!

Please will you sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1. Thank you :-)

Day 15

I don't think I'm getting my food/hydration right. I did 80 lengths today in 40 mins (and then the pool shut), whereas I did the full 100 in 45 mins yesterday. And I was trying really hard today whereas I wasn't yesterday.

Just have to work out what's best for my body (without living off energy drinks!). Any suggestions would be much appreciated (bearing in mind that I'm vegetarian).

If you haven't already (or if you can afford a bit more (aimed at my colleagues who gave me £1 and promised more would come) :-P ) please can you sponsor me? You can do it at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1

Thank you x

1190 down, 9150 to go.

Collecting tins.

I have one on the reception at the Bury Leisure Centre, one on the bar at the Spread Eagle, one at Eric's Butchers, one on the bar at the Rose and Crown and two others which are moving about (one is currently in the Staff Room at BLC with brownies, and my godmother has one to put on her stall at the Rougham fair next weekend (I think it is Rougham... I was a bit drunk last night when she told me) ) .

I opened one which was with brownies at BSEAODS and in it was £18, which is fantastic, so thank you very much.

But the point of this post is to say how overwhelmed I've been by the response at the Spread Eagle. I brought the tin home today and I had nearly £70! Thank you so much to everyone who gave me money, (especially the woman who gave £20 because she had nothing smaller!), and thank you to Hazel who let me be distracted and persuade people to donate.

So this means that I have £630. Thank you to everyone. I'm nearly three quarters of the way- only another £60!

And thank you to my godmother, Bat, who will not only have my tin on her stall at the aforementioned fair, but has given another £10 to buy more business cards as I've run out :-)

Day 14

Did 100 today. Not very much else to say as I wrote a lot earlier and I'm in a bit of a rush- my sister's in a show tonight.

I did it in 45 mins! I'm getting closer to my 20 min/mile target!

Please sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1

1110 down, 9150 to go.

Hugh made me a poster :-)

Thank you Hugh :-)

And thank you to Aiden and Lianne for sponsoring me yesterday.

I'd also like to thank people who've put money in my collecting boxes. There's one at the Spread Eagle pub (and I only sweet-talked a few people men into putting there change in it while I was behind the bar last night), and there's one at Bury Leisure Centre.

I'd also like to thank my sister Carli. She made two batches of brownies yesterday (and kept an eye on my two batches while they were in the oven). She then took a HUGE box of brownies to BSEAODS rehearsals last night and told everyone they could only have one if they donated some money. So thank you to her and thank you to all of the people who gave money (Carli informs me that someone gave a fiver. Thank you especially to them). You don't know me, and yet you're still supporting my cause. I really appreciate it.

Anyway, this is started to sound like an acceptance speech. I'll blog again after my swim this afternoon, although I probably wont have much to say as I seem to have said it here. I'm sure I'll think of something. I have the gift of the gab. 

BLC, it's your turn. I'm bringing brownies this afternoon. Bring money.

PS, I was also in the Bury Mercury this week. I shall put up a scan when I have time (how do I fit uni work in during term time?!?), but it's basically the same as the EADT article.

Day 13

So as I said earlier, I received a package from Jacqui at TAG today. In in was some collecting boxes, and I'm working out where to put them. One is at Abbeycroft Leisure Centre in Bury, so if you go there, please donate your pennies :-)

I did 50 lengths today. I felt like I had an asthma attack coming on, and I don't want to kill myself doing this!

I shan't write about lane etiquette today. I just got frustrated yesterday by people getting in my way. If I see that someone is faster than me, I will try not to impede their swimming, but that doesn't happen very often (I didn't get up at 5:20 3 mornings a week for however many million years not to be faster than most!), and so I often find that I'm crashing into people because they are swimming in the middle of the lane (for no reason!) going one way, and I'm trying to overtake someone going the other, and then I get tutted at as, because I am young and fast, I am obviously the female swimming equivalent of a boy-racer.

Anyway, rant over.

If you haven't already, please will you sponsor me? You can do it at http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-McCourt1

Thank you :-)

1010 down, 8250 to go.

I got an exciting package!!

Thank you Jacqui from TAG for sending me all of this. Very exciting. Now just to make a lot of brownies :-)

Day 12

Hello.  This is Hugh, because Lexy is hammered.  She did her 100 lengths earlier and got a serious case of lane rage!!  So she came home and had a drink...or three.

Thank you to Ursie who brought over her change jar today and sponsored Lexy with it.  If you haven't sponsored her yet, please could you at www.justgiving.com/alex-mccourt1

Tomorrow, Lexy will be writing this blog, and will discuss all about lane etiquette, because that is what annoyed her earlier, and drove her to drink.  If you are a swimmer at Abbeycroft Leisure Centre, and happened to get in Lexy's way, please don't do it again, as her parents and I have had to deal with a very difficult and drunk young lady!!

960 down, 8300 to go (OVER 10% OF THE WAY!!!) :-D


This is Alex again. I'm not really that drunk. I had some XO marmite on toast and I've sobered up. I shall talk to you all tomorrow after my lunchtime swim :-)

Day 11 & a bit about me

Another early morning swim today. I'm looking forward to having a lie-in tomorrow!

I only did 50. This was partly because I was running late (read: didn't want to get out of bed), and partly because my swimming costume was too big and I had regular wardrobe malfunctions. So I'm about to order some new costumes and then I'll have no excuse!

Please sponsor me. I still have another £430 to raise. Thank you :-)

860 down, 8400 to go.

Thank you to Kirsty (who the video is for, as she told me when she sponsored me this morning to 'just keep swimming' like Dory), David and Alastair (Hugh's sister, brother-in-law and nephew) for sponsoring me just now. I'm over £500 :-)



I thought that maybe, as I don't have much else to say, I should write a bit about me. I'm a girl-Alex. I'm currently home from university where I study Human Biology and Law. I'm spending my summer working (I'm a lifeguard (means that I don't have to pay to swim everyday- could be expensive!) and a bartender). If I didn't, I would spend my summer sleeping, baking and swimming, so I'm working for the sake of my family's (and Hugh's) waistlines.
So why TAG? When I decided to do this swim I wanted to do it for a charity that had something to do with people I care about. I considered a variety of options, but The Arthrogryposis Group always stood out. Hugh is affected by Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita and TAG have helped him, so I want to help them in return, especially as they aren't very well known.
Hugh and I have been together for so long that thinking about it makes me feel old.
During the holidays I live with my Mummy, Daddy and my ickle sister. We also have two cats who know that their ancestors were worshipped by the Egyptians, and so think that we should worship them too. They are spoilt rotten. There are also 4 chickens in the garden, but I don't take much of an interest with the outdoors.
I don't know what I want to be when I grow up graduate- I'm not sure I'll ever grow up. Thus the strange degree. It's keeping my options open. My life plan varies depending on which lecture I enjoyed the most that week. At the moment I want to be a geneticist; before Christmas I wanted to be a human rights lawyer.
I also make the best brownies in the world (according to Hugh. He may be biased). It's actually my Mum's recipe, I've just adapted it slightly, and now I make them to bribe people with (for example: I'll be selling them for 50p a pop at my lifeguard-work and various other places. I've told the people (especially the boys) that they can't have any over the entire summer unless they've sponsored me.

Anyway, I'm bored of talking about me now. I'm going to have a nap before I go back to my pub-work.

Day 10

I was my hardest swim so far today. The chlorine is making me really itchy and because of that I didn't sleep very well last night, which made getting up at 7am very difficult (especially as I'm a student, and getting up 'early' for me is the 8:30 alarm which I have for work). I didn't want to go, and I must admit that I did burst into tears when I couldn't find my shoes!

But I'm feeling better now. My Dad bought me a packet of Haribo* (he said if I name-check them, they might send me a big, big box of tangfastics. It's worth a shot :-P ), so that was my breakfast, and in an hour I'll be off to the train station and I'll see my lovely Hugh. We're having a trip into Cambridge.

The swim itself wasn't too hard. Thank you to the lifeguard Emily who let me stay in a little bit later, as I was only on 98 lengths when she closed the pool. I'm not finding it too difficult physically, but it is difficult in my head in that it feels like I've been swimming forever and I'm still less than 10% of the way. But it will get easier as I get fitter. Right now it feels like I'm spending my whole day either swimming, sleeping or working, but as I swim faster (my aim is to be able to swim the distance in just over half an hour) it will take up less of my day and I'll have more time to do other things.

On a different note, I've been looking at the stats and I see that I'm getting an awful lot of hits from America (I do have family in the USA, but I doubt they've been checking out my blog half a dozen times a day!) and a few from Germany and Poland. I'd really appreciate it if you could sponsor me (and tell all your friends about what I'm doing so that they can support me too). Please could you at least email me, or comment on this post? I'd like to know who you are :-)

Right, shower time now. I didn't have one at the pool as my shampoo exploded (today's not really my day, but things can only go up from here!), and the itching is getting unbearable.

Please sponsor me. Everyone's generosity is what is keeping me going.

810 down, 8450 to go


* I got told off for this. Apparently it was my Mum's idea, but my Dad's implementation. So thank you to both of my parents.


Another 7am start tomorrow. Can't wait.

Day 9

Hello everyone :-)

Just done my lengths for today. Was planning on doing 200 so that I didn't have to go before breakfast tomorrow, but I got bored (I am only human!) and finished after my normal 100. Looks like I'll be up early in the morning!

I've also today made a graph to show how I'm doing against how I should be at this point (I'm my mother's daughter!). I'm only a little bit behind average, and I'll be back on track by tomorrow (this is because I could do 80 lengths a day and I'd manage the distance in the time I'm home from university, but I'm actually doing 100 lengths a day. This means that I don't have to cram in the distance before I go on holiday.).

I've also been meaning to post a picture of my business cards which arrived earlier in the week. The top one shows the front and the bottom one shows the back. I think they're so cute!

Thank you to Todd and Christian (again) who sponsored me today :-) I'm less than £10 away from £500!!!

Please will you sponsor me? I'm overwhelmed by people's generosity over the last two weeks, but I still have so far to go.

710 down, 8550 to go

Day 8

Back to the pool today. The day off worked. It didn't hurt :-)

Thank you to Michael, the drunk lady at the pub last night, Joe and Alice for sponsoring me over the last 18 or so hours. I'm over halfway and nearly at £500 :-)

I'm too tired to write much more. I blame the blood loss from our family trip to the blood doning session yesterday.

Please sponsor me. I'll bake you brownies (terms and conditions apply :-P )

610 down, 8650 to go

Day 7

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm having a day off from swimming today.

My first day at my second job went really well, and now a couple of hours off before I head down to the pool (I might not be swimming today, but I just can't stay away from the place. And also, I need monies)

Thank you to Jenn who sponsored me last night. I'm now only £10.16 away from half way. It's so wonderful :-)

And I think I might have persuaded Joe to sponsor me too, so I shall be even closer...

Apparently I was supposed to be in the Mercury yesterday, however we don't get it delivered to my house. If you do have a copy could you possibly scan in the article and email it to me? The address is justkeepswimming-alexmccourt@hotmail.co.uk


Update: I just got off the phone from Jacqui at TAG and she's going to send me some collecting boxes and some other things, as well as putting a piece about me in the TAG newsletter. Thank you Jacqui.

And my Hugh is going to do me some posters tomorrow (he's the creative one, I just bake!), so thank you to him too :-)

Thank you to Roz for sponsoring me too. I'm now only £5 away from half way!!!

Thank you to everyone :-)

Day 6

Hey all,

I didn't manage the whole 100 lengths today. Wasn't feeling well so I stopped after 50. My Daddy reckons it's exhaustion. I've not swam for a year and then suddenly I've done 12km in less than a week!

Well I'm having tomorrow off. It's my first day at the new job, then I'm working a shift at the current job and then I'm giving blood. I always feel rubbish after I donate and I don't want to risk fainting in the pool (and I think Lewis and Hannah would rather not get in to save me!).

So I'll probably do 150 on Saturday, but perhaps I shall stick to 100. I think the key is not to kill myself doing this (well, I think that that is, in face, the overall goal). I have the 3 weeks extra if I do need it, so we shall see how I feel on Saturday. I don't want to have to have a day off a week, like I'm having this week, so I don't want to work myself too hard.

Anyway, I'm exhausted. Have been in the pool 3x in 24 hours. I hope this is all making sense. I have a tendency to say random things that only I (and perhaps my family and Hugh, although not always), can understand.

Night night

Thank you to Chris who sponsored me today. Please sponsor me too. I'm less than £20 away from halfway. Love <3

510 down, 8750 to go

Justgiving

A couple of people have told me that there is a problem with donating via justgiving. If you do want to sponsor me and it's not working, we can do it the old-school way. Either give me the money when you see me, or email me at
justkeepswimming-alexmccourt@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send you my address to post a cheque to. You could also contact justgiving and they might be able to help you.

They suggest on their help page that you check your browser security settings.

Thank you, and please don't let this stop you sponsoring me :-)

Day 5

So I've just done swim number 5. It's definitely getting a lot easier. only took me 50 minutes today and I did a mile in one go.

20 minute miles, here I come!

My business cards arrived today so I've been handing lots out and hopefully it'll be worthwhile.

Anyway, off to make some brownies to bribe my work-boys into parting with their money (a way to these men's hearts is definitely through their stomachs!)

Please sponsor me if you haven't already. I've got a phenomenal amount in just over a week, but I still have so far to go!

460 down, 8800 to go

Thank you to my Auntie Marie and her family, and Chris for sponsoring me today. I've broken £400!!

And thank you to everyone at work I'm nearly halfway! :-)

A couple of people have told me that there is a problem with donating via justgiving. If you do want to sponsor me and it's not working, we can do it the old-school way. Either give me the money when you see me, or email me at
justkeepswimming-alexmccourt@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send you my address to post a cheque to.

Day 4

I can feel myself getting fitter, although boy is it hurting. I managed 50 lengths on the trot today, whereas I only managed 30 without a break yesterday and 10 at once on Sunday. As every day passes, the crazier I think I am!

The previous post is the article in the East Anglian Daily Times this morning. This picture isn't as bad as I thought it would be! Now just for the Mercury on Thursday.

Thank you to my Granma and Grandad for pledging £30 today. I'm so close to £400. In just over a week. It's so fantastic :-)

Please sponsor me. Work people- you wont be allowed any brownies at Staff Training tomorrow unless you've donated.

Night night.

360 down, 8900 to go

I'm in the East Anglian Daily Times!

Click to zoom


Thank you to the Bedfords and the Bankses, who sponsored me last night :-)

If you haven't already, please can you sponsor me? Every pound is appreciated.

Day 3

So I've just done my third swim. It was easier than yesterday but I'm looking forward to being as fit as I was again!

I don't seem to be in the EADT today. They told me this might happen and if I wasn't in today's, I'd be in tomorrow's.

Not much else to say today. I'm exhausted and am going back to bed. Ta-ra.

PS Please sponsor me. Thank you :-)

250 down, 9010 to go

Thank you to Ursula, who just brought me round some sponsorship money from her and her friend Sam, so thank you to him too :-)

Day 2

A late one today. I've had a busy evening at Hugh's parents' who have just come back from Portugal. Lucky sods!

I did 100 lengths today and it nearly killed me! I'm not as fit as it used to be, but it shall come. I've got 90-odd more days of this! I didn't catch up the extra 50 from yesterday, but as my Mum rightly said, it would be a bit of a shock to the system to go from 0-50-150 lengths in 3 days.

I used my MP3 player in the pool today. It was good but I need to adjust it as it cut the blood circulation off to my ears!

You all should buy the East Anglian Daily Times tomorrow. I'll probably be in it with a (not so) beautiful picture of me.

Just a short one today. Super-sleepy.

Please, please sponsor me, if you haven't already.

150 down, 9110 to go

Day 1!

So it's been a busy, busy day today. I bought wayyy too much costume jewellery at the auction this morning, and then I did my first swim.

As the auction overran and I needed lunch etc., I only did 50 lengths today, but I shall make it up tomorrow, I don't want to be too far behind too early on!

I also had Tudor from the East Anglian Daily Times come to take some pictures of me in the pool, and Hugh took some as well, which I'll stick on the blog. However, I must say that I am not the most photogenic person in the world, especially in a swimming costume, hat and goggles.

The 50 lengths were quite hard. Mostly because I kept getting distracted by the lifeguards! This is what I bought my waterproof MP3 player, however I haven't filled it up with music yet. That's on my to-do list tonight.

Thank you to my Hugh for sponsoring me and taking lots of pictures of me and generally being a sweetheart.

If you haven't sponsored me, please can you? I've raised almost £300 since Tuesday, but I still need more! Thank you so much :-)

Make sure you get your hands on the East Anglian Daily Times on Monday, and the Mercury on Thursday, there will be a lovely (or maybe not, see above about swimming costumes etc.!) picture of me, and a nice article about me :-)

50 down, 9210 to go.

I'm in the Bury Free Press!

(Click to zoom)

Thank you also to Jackie who sponsored me today :-)

T-1 day

I'M GOING HOME TODAY XD XD XD

Thank you to Hazelnut for sponsoring me last night. I'm nearly 25% of the way there now :-)

Please will you sponsor me too, if you haven't already? I'd really appreciate it :-)

T -2 Days

Again today's posting will probably be a short one. I was out last night and I'm a bit hungover this morning. I also have a big pile still to pack, as well as all of my kitchen stuff. How have I accumulated so much??



However I have also packed a lot. I'm not sure if it's all going to fit in the car...


I've just have a lovely phone call with Jo from the East Anglian Daily Times. It's all getting exciting now.

I am getting a bit daunted by the length I have to swim... Just want to start it really... Only two more days.

Please, please sponsor me. I'm overwhelmed by the response already, so thank you everyone who has donated already. Nearly £200 in three days is fantastic. But I still need another £723.54. Please help. Thank you :-)

Update: Thank you to my Rusty-housemate for sponsoring me, I'm now over £200 :-)

T -3 Days

So today's post will actually be a short one. I bored my family and boyfriend with talk of this yesterday and ideas what to do, so I've promised them I'll do something else today.

So I'm going to pack, as I'm moving home on Friday, and I'm going to look at some holiday destinations.

I got some more sponsorship, which means I'm nearly 20% of the way there, in only 48 hours. This is fantastic. Thank you to everyone, and thank you to Angharad who sponsored me this morning, and to Jen and Justin, and my aunt, uncle and cousins who sponsored me just now :-)

Also thank you to Harry who donated £5 after losing a drunken bet about whether candyfloss at the Students' Union was free or not (it was. Moral of the story: I don't lose bets).

If you haven't already, please sponsor me. I'll love you forever.

T -4 Days

So I can't see much happening on the swimming-front today.

I had my last exam this morning, and now I'm at a bit of a loose end. Have just ordered some mini-business cards because last year people kept forgetting the URL to sponsor me. And at only £10 for 100 I thought that was a pretty good deal.

I've also had more sponsorship :-) so thank you to Mercy, The Breezes and Tom. I didn't actually have to blackmail any of these! So I've now got my first 230 lengths sponsored, which is enough to get me almost to the end of Monday's swim nearly a third of the way through Monday's session (I've decided to do more lengths a day. I explain more below). It's fantastic, so thank you again to everyone to has already donated :-)

Not much else to report. I'm tempted to start my swim early, however I think it might be cheating a little bit!

If you haven't already, please can you sponsor me? I still need £897.60 £863.60 £848.60 £756.54 to get me to my target. Thank you so much :-)

Update: I've just had an email from TAG offering me T-shirts and collection buckets. This is really exciting. (I've also just had some Percy Pigs, so I'm on a bit of a sugar high! Maybe wouldn't be quite this excited if I was calm. Breathe Alex, breathe. Who am I kidding? I get excited at everything!). Thank you to TAG and Kath, if you're reading this.

Update 2: Hugh has just got off the phone with Jacqui from TAG who has given us lots of things to think about. So thank you too Jacqui :-)

I've also amended how many lengths I'm going to do a day. This was originally going to be 80, however that didn't take into account any holidays or long working days (I'll be juggling this with two jobs to try and get me lots of summer money. I shall be a pint-pulling lifeguard. I can also invigilate your exams and maintain sterile labs, but I digress). So I have amended my schedule to 100 lengths a day (2.5km, 1.55miles), rather than 80 (2km, 1.25miles). This will mean that I have 3 weeks leeway, and don't have to be cramming in the distance right before I go on holiday so that I still stay on track when I get back having taken a week off (there is no pool at the holiday home we're renting, otherwise I would be continuing the swim).

You may think that 3 weeks is a lot of leeway, as I'm only going to be on holiday for 7 days, however I wanted to keep the distance I was swimming each day to either .5 of a kilometre or a whole one. It just means that keeping track of distances in my head is easy! I'm just lucky that the numbers work out that I can do 100 lengths a day for 92 (and a bit) days and finish my 230km, leaving me with potentially almost 23 days "spare" before I have to go back to uni (because I'm too lazy to swim during term time!).

I'm also going to post a picture of the river to give you an idea of the distance. I'd like to get it embedded somewhere so that you can see my progression, but I'm not very good with computers, so I've put it on Hugh's to-do list :-P

The red pointer is how far I've gone (obviously no-where yet as I don't start until Saturday).

This map is from the British Swimming Swimfit website, which is how I will be tracking my progress. If you click on the map, it will open larger in a new window.


Update 3: Everyone keeps telling me I'm crazy. I think I'm starting to agree with them!

Update 4: Thank you also to my wonderful parents, Judie and Martin, my sister Carli, her friends Anna, Katie, and Zerelda, and my godparents Steve and Serena for sponsoring me. I'm on £55 £57 £72 £164.06 now, which is enough to sponsor me for a week's two and a half week's worth of swimming! Thank you all again :-)

...And to think that I thought today's posting would be a short one!

T -5 days

So, today I've decided to do another swimming challenge.

Last year I swam the length of the channel (in the pool. I don't like fish or poo. I like my swimming water to be chlorinated!) for Aspire, who help people with spinal injuries, like one of my close friends. I did it in 26 days, and managed to raise about £350.

However, this year I want to do something bigger and better. I've decided to swim 230km (143 miles), which is the length of the longest river in East Anglia (it's actually 230.136km, but I've rounded up to the nearest 25m, so it'll be like I'm swimming 14m into the sea!), in 115 days, the amount of time I'm home from University. I'd like to raise £920.60, which is 10p a length, (see, all of these random numbers have meanings :-P ) for The Arthrogryposis Group . Arthrogryposis is the condition which my boyfriend is affected by, so I'd really like to raise the money to help them.

I'm already starting to feel a bit daunted by this, however I've got £5 already and I'm not starting swimming until Saturday. That's my first 50 lengths sponsored already. So thank you to my housemate Akash, who I didn't have to guilt trip into sponsoring me :-P

So please, please will you sponsor me too? I'd like to be able to get in the pool on Saturday and know that my first mile and a quarter is sponsored already. I only need 3 more pounds!

PS, I also need some songs to fill my (waterproof) MP3 player up with to stop me getting bored and talking to the lifeguards. Any suggestions would be appreciated :-)