A Harrow resident has completed a two-mile swim to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research in memory of her late father, who passed away from brain cancer last year.
Rebecca Dandridge, 48, took part in the Swim Serpentine event in Hyde Park on 14 September, completing the challenge in 2 hours and 15 minutes. She undertook the swim in honour of her father, Michael Dandridge, who died in November 2023 from glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour.
Reflecting on the challenge, Rebecca said: “It was a tough challenge especially after the first mile, and much harder than my training prepared me for. I was delirious during the last half mile and kept talking to my parents, looking up at the sky, to keep me going.”
Michael, 82, lived in Sussex and had also previously survived kidney cancer in 2016. When he was diagnosed with the terminal condition, Rebecca, who was running art sessions for adults with learning difficulties, became his full-time carer.
Rebecca recalled the emotional moment she learned of her father’s prognosis: “Dad was very accepting of his prognosis, but I burst into tears when the doctors said there was nothing they could do. From that moment I gave up my whole life and vowed to look after him.”
After two months of care, Michael passed away in November. Since then, Rebecca, who used to swim competitively, has found solace in swimming again to manage her own mental health.
She added: “Dad would watch me swimming in competitions when I was younger and during the two-and-a-half months I cared for him at the end of his life, I got back in the water, and it felt right to do something like this in his memory.”
Rebecca’s efforts have raised over £1,400 for Brain Tumour Research so far. She expressed the importance of supporting the charity, which receives limited funding compared to other cancers.
“For me, it’s so important to support a charity such as Brain Tumour Research because it receives such little funding compared to other cancers. That’s a disgrace,” she said.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, commented on Rebecca’s swim: “Rebecca is incredibly kind in taking part in her swimming challenge which will help us closer to funding kinder treatments and eventually a cure for all types of brain tumours.”
Brain Tumour Research campaigns for increased funding for research, seeking to secure an annual spend of £35 million to improve survival rates and patient outcomes.
To donate to Rebecca’s fundraising, visit her JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/rebecca-walker-1709896520275.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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