This post is about helping a wonderful charity - what I am hoping to do and what you can do, please. So a shorter post than normal. Please read to the end - its not far to go for you the reader though longer for me!

The charity is Level Water - dedicated to helping disabled children learn to swim. Part of my own journey over these last twelve months since hearing about them is to get myself qualified as a Swim Teacher so I can actively support the work they do. Last weekend I finished my Swim England (formerly ASA) Level 2 certificate so am now qualified to do so - though am very conscious of the need for more experience and training.

In the meantime, what better way to help than swimming myself - and not just one big swim event but two (well, more really, but we'll come to that).

First up, next month I am doing the Bantham Swoosh - 6kms in a beautiful part of Devon. Then in September I'm going back to the River Dart 10km. I'm doing both for Level Water, aiming to raise a minimum of £500. Both events re run by the awesome Outdoor Swimming Society.

I've also got a few other big swim events lined up to prepare. Most exciting of these is the Great North Swim Run in Lake Windemere - with a 5km swim planned the next day. I've already been braving the cold sea and other open water locations to get acclimatised. But more details on those events in a later post.

For now, please go to the Just Giving Page and help this great cause.

Post Dart 10k nutrition with my son - the big question is: will I top the experience and go for pistachio and hazelnut flavour next time?