Finally Rearranged the PINK POOL NIGHT

I have finally managed to rearrange the PINK POOL NIGHT to help raise funds for Swimming After Surgery (SAS)

PINK POOL NIGHT

SWIMMING AFTER SURGERY (SAS)

One Day You will be able to Face the World

Venue: Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre



Saturday 31st March 2012 7.30-8.30pm



There will also be a raffle to help raise funds for Swimming After Surgery (SAS) which helps ladies recover from breast cancer surgery.



Adults £5.00 Children £2.50



For Further information or to obtain tickets Telephone Fiona on 01952 371941

PINK POOL NIGHT

I have now been able to set the date for the PINK POOL NIGHT at Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre. 

It is going to be held on Saturday 31st March 2012 at 7.30pm.

The pool will be dyed pink (quite harmless and no one will come out of the pool pink).

Adult Tickets £5.00
Children Tickets £2.50.

For further information or to book tickets please telephone 01952 371941.

A New Year

Well 2012 has finally dawned.  This year is going to be busy I expect.

The Court ASC is moving to a new home on the 9th January 2012 to Abraham Darby Swimming Pool.  Haven't seen it yet but heard a lot of things about it.

Also it is the Court ASC 40th Year.  So I expect some celebrations etc will be planned for this special year.

As it is the 2012 Olympics I expect I will be busy with various things that I am involved in.

So this year will start quietly and move up a gear over the coming months with meetings etc.

I also have to keep my finger on the pulse to ensure I keep funding going for Swimming After Surgery (SAS).  I Have the Pink Pool Night still up my sleeve once Wellington Swimming Pool finally reopens.  Apart from that the committee and I have to come up with other ideas to keep the momentum going to ensure the project is a success for the future.

I have lots of ideas but no money to sustain them at present.  Like tracksuits for the ladies with Swimming After Surgery (SAS) printed on the back.  We want these to be PINK so that they stand out from the crowd and as it is for breast cancer the colour has to be pink.  So that is something I am working on.

My Sundays will be busy too this year as the teaching schedule for The Court ASC has changed a lot.  So Monday evenings will be free of swimming and Sunday afternoons replace them.

I love challenges and I hope I can live up to my own expectations for this year.  My wonderful husband who supports me in everything I do says I push myself too hard.  I feel that I can never do enough to help those who are far worse off than me.

I feel for all those ladies who are worried about their implants.  They didn't just decide to have "boob jobs".  They were the ones diagnosed with breast cancer and have had no choice but to have reconstruction with these implants.  Many doctors insist that ladies facing mastectomies get referred for reconstruction.  I fought this protocol so hard as I was under 40.  I had to agree to three months of counselling to prove I was making an informed choice and was of sound mind to do so.  I will never ever forget the look of victory on my face when the consultant finally agreed to what I wanted.

I am one of the lucky ones I am happy with the way I am, scars and all.  My prothesis are heavy and are uncomfortable.  More often than not I don't bother wearing one.  No one notices as I am smiling most of the time.  It is only when we get on the subject of breast cancer that it gets noticed.  Some say I am brave.  I am not.  I am just me and happy with the way I am.  Seven breast operations on the one side was enough for me.  To have to face another for a reconstruction was more than I could bear.  So there you have it I am a coward and couldn't face any more operations on that side. 

It is knowing what these ladies are going through and are trying to come out the other side of that inspires me to keep Swimming After Surgery (SAS) going.  They need a stepping stone to move forward and this is it. 

Imagine losing part of your body and attempting to put a swimming costume on to face a general swimming session.  Could you do it?

It took me six months of courage and a telephone call to make it. 

Swimming After Surgery (SAS) offers a helping hand and support every step of the way to help point you in the right direction of choosing a swimming costume to eventually plucking up the courage to enter the swimming pool environment.  I know it will take many women a very long time to even get to this point. 

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have to be over and permission has to be granted from their consultants, breast care nurses or GP before they can even attempt this journey.

Many will want to do it straight away but the time has to be right for them.

Setting something like Swimming After Surgery (SAS) up has taken time, energy and effort but I love every minute of it.  Seeing the women smiling in the water is what keeps me going.

Knowing that I am happier in the water than out of it also helps me too.  I love my life and couldn't be happier despite all the operations, scars and everything else I have gone through this is what I am here for.

Helping women overcome breast cancer surgery and to see them smile and grow in confidence so that they too can get their lives back to some sort of normality.

My life will never be normal but I love the challenges it offers me and I know this year will not be any different.  Bring them on.

Happy New Year one and all.  Best wishes

Fee

Still pinching myself

Last night at a committee meeting for The Court Amateur Swimming Club I found out I have been awarded Volunteer of the Year 2011.  I have also been briefed that this means I have to take my swimsuit with me to the pool when I go to teach on Friday night as I will be pushed in. 

I love my swimming life and having looked back at this year, I can't quite believe what I attempted and achieved. 

I couldn't even put my head under water at the beginning of the year.  Now I jump in, swim with my head underwater and attempt new things.

The year started with a Level 1 Teaching Aquatics Course.  Closely followed by a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).  I attempted this but failed on the timed swims.

Then I was invited to The House of Commons in May to receive the Big Splash Award http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/swimming/13364090.stm

Following this I have done several Continuing Professional Development Courses to enable me to teach people with disabilities.

Now to end the year on this high I can't quite believe the year I have had.  It has certainly been challenging with things not being in my control.  For instance the PINK POOL NIGHT being postponed due to Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre not reopening in time for the event in January.

On the whole I can be proud of what I have achieved and am achieving so I would definitely call this year a success.

I wish everyone a very wonderful Christmas and an extremely Happy New Year.

Best wishes

Fee

Training Day

I had a wonderful day yesterday doing CPD training thanks to the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association) at Kingswinford. 

I travelled with a colleague from the swimming club I teach at.  We were so glad my husband was driving as the fog was so thick the satnav couldn't work.  We were in the middle of Wolverhampton when we realised we were lost.  At that point the satnav came back to life and we made it safely to our destination.

It was lovely to see old friends/acquaintances and make new ones.  While I was talking to new acquaintances my colleague said "It's you".  "What's me?"  I replied.

Your Story is in that leaflet (see pic) I was completely shocked. 

We then headed off to our workshops for the morning.

It was lovely to see so many people representing Shropshire at the training day.  It was such a worthwhile day and I learnt so much.

A lot of the information I can use not only at the swimming club but also Ican2 Sports and Leisure for dealing with all sorts of disabilities.

The most important thing to remember is not to shout at children with disabilities so play acting is the way round this.  I must remember to put on an angry face by putting my hands on my hips and blowing out my cheeks.  This way the child will know they have done something wrong.  I will then have to patiently explain what they have done wrong and help them correct their behaviour. 

It is difficult not being a parent myself but I am definitely going to have to learn patience.  It all comes with experience and I know I will not be alone on this journey.

I hope everyone had a good weekend.

Best wishes

Fee

At last I can run a PINK POOL NIGHT

I have finally had confirmation that Swimming After Surgery (SAS) will be having a PINK POOL NIGHT on Saturday 28th January at 7.30 pm to help raise funds for this worthwhile project.

There will be a raffle as well as other fund raising ideas which include paying forfeits for those who don't want to wear PINK.

The swimming pool will be dyed pink and the dye disperses naturally through the filtration system of the pool.

I know this from a previous experience in a pool dyed pink.  It is not harmful at all.

I am now busy preparing posters and tickets etc.

Best wishes

Fee

Swimming After Surgery (SAS)

Finally after a long time and a lot of patience things are beginning to take off. 

Numbers are increasing slowly but surely for this project and I am thrilled with what the project has managed to do so far.

Not only does it help women in the water feel better but it also gives them confidence so that they can go out and do things they didn't they ever would again when they had surgery.

One lady is back driving and now volunteers in the community.

The other benefits are amazing.  Socialising and feeling alive again is one of the major benefits of the project.

I am so pleased I had the idea and got on with it.

Now all I have to do is keep the project running with my wonderful helpful committee. 

Swimming After Surgery (SAS) sessions are held on Wednesday evenings from 6.30 - 7.30pm at Short Wood Primary School Pool in Wellington for ladies who have had breast cancer surgery.

If anyone wishes to find out further information or book a place then please feel free to call 01952 371941.

Best wishes

Fee