Charity, Ferndown, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on April 25th, 2024 | return to news
Mother and son take the plunge in Ferndown in honour of Nigel Tiller
Mother and son duo, Jan and Thomas Tiller will swim 5k at Ferndown Leisure Centre in honour of Nigel Tiller when they take part in the Swimathon.
Jan (61) and Thomas (31), who lost husband and father Nigel Tiller to kidney cancer in 2021 will take part in the world’s largest annual fundraising swim to raise funds in aid of Cancer Research UK and the end of life charity Marie Curie.
With the countdown to the Paris Olympics well underway, the duo are issuing a rallying cry for Dorset pool-lovers to ‘go for gold’ in their own way by raising vital funds for the two much-loved causes.
Jan and Thomas’s call comes as a new ‘Swim-Census’*, commissioned by the charity partners, reveals that swimming rates as a top sport to participate in for adults in the South West (26%).
The Swimathon will take place from 26-28 April at various venues.
Swimming holds a special significance for the duo, as Thomas was a competitive swimmer for 13 years and Jan was a swimming teacher. Despite Nigel not being a swimmer himself, they chose to swim as a team in his honour remembering his dedication to Tom’s competitive swimming, waking up at 5am to drive him to his training in the mornings and again in the evenings.
Three years since his passing, Nigel’s battle with cancer remains a driving force for the family to participate in charity sporting events.
They hope that sharing their story will encourage people in Dorset to get off the starting blocks and help support the charities close to their heart.
Jan said: “I think about him every single day, no one expects to be widowed in your fifties, you’ve lost your partner, your best friend and part of who you are. Taking part in events like this not just about fundraising, they are also important for us as another means of keeping his memory alive, and we know he would be so proud of us.”
Tom adds: “We are so grateful for the treatment he was able to receive. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was able to live for three and half years after. For us, everything we do now is to help somebody else have that opportunity to receive the treatment that we did.”
While Thomas is a competitive swimmer and Jan a swimming teacher, both are keen to emphasise you don’t need to be the next Adam Peaty to take part. With a variety of distances available – from 400m up to 30.9k – the event offers a challenge for swimmers young and old, new and experienced.
People can participate individually or as part of a team. And any swimmers who can’t make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon, which takes place from 19 April-5 May, and choose a time and venue that suits them.
Jan added: “Although I can teach swimming reasonably well and have managed to teach many children in the area how to swim, as an individual swimmer it is quite a challenge for me. I wear contact lenses, that is where a past reluctance came from – bad eyesight – so I will be swimming with contacts under my goggles. I do have empathy for people who don’t enjoy swimming, the challenge I face is to put that to one side and support Tom through this and raise some money for the good concern. I’ll do anything to help him through this challenge.”
Since it began in 1986, the Swimathon event has raised more than £55m for charity.
On their fundraising efforts, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Dorset, Elisa Mitchell, said: “From pioneering some of the first chemotherapies, to the development of advanced, targeted treatments and immunotherapy, our research has played a role in around half of the world’s essential cancer drugs. With nearly one in two people set to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, it’s thanks to the generosity and commitment of supporters like Jan and Thomas that we are able to fund the vital treatments of tomorrow. That’s why we’re urging swimmers to dive in, raise money and help us to keep making new discoveries and breakthroughs. Together, we are beating cancer.”
Marie Curie’s head of Fundraising, England, Jayne Waterhouse, said: “Every year thousands of people of all ages and abilities take the plunge at their local pool on Swimathon weekend as part of the world’s largest annual fundraising swim.
“As Swimathon’s charity partner, the funds that Marie Curie receives through this iconic challenge allow us to continue to support people with any illness they are likely to die from and those close to them.
“Money raised through your sponsored swims help our nurses to continue to deliver care and support, and funds our free Information and Support Services which offer practical and emotional support on everything from day-to-day care to financial information and bereavement support.
“Do something amazing for your health and wellbeing this spring, all whilst raising money for a worthy cause, sign up for Swimathon!”
Sign up for Swimathon 2024 at swimathon.org/enter-now
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
