“Determined” mum to join son in Swimathon challenge for Marie Curie

 

A mum-of-two is determined to battle through injuries to help raise money for Marie Curie by swimming 1.5km.

Valerie Miller, who is of Italian descent – and whose grandfather’s work can be seen on the fascia of Swansea’s iconic Morgan’s hotel – is set to take part in Swimathon 2017, alongside son Andrew. 

Val, who is retired, but has worked in retail – including as a bridal sales consultant – and has helped in old age care, said she had always loved swimming, and signed up when her son suggested it.

Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim is back for 2017 and swimmers across the UK are being encouraged to jump in one of over 600 participating pools and raise vital funds for Marie Curie, the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness and their families. 

The event will take place across the weekend of 7^th-9^th April and is extra special this year as Swimathon will be celebrating its 30^th anniversary.

Swimmers can challenge themselves to the 5k, 2.5k or 1.5k Individual or Team 5k or 1.5k distances and raise funds for Marie Curie. 

The 66-year-old, of Llansamlet, recently injured her shoulder, but said swimming has helped her to recover. 

“I used to work in a shop in Neath, so I used to swim every morning, 7 o’clock swim. When I became retired, that went down a bit, but I still swim all the time,” said Val, who has also had a heel injury recently.

“The reason why I’m doing it is, a lot of my family have died from cancer.  My father died when I was three, he had a tumour in the brain. My mother died of breast cancer, and my brother died over 10 years ago with a brain tumour, and his wife died 18 months later with the same. 

“So we’ve had a lot of cancer in the family.  I’ve got a dear friend at the moment going through a lot   She’s not very well, I don’t know how long she’s going to be with us, so it’s that spurring me on basically.” 

Val and her son signed up before Christmas – but she nearly had to cancel due to an impending operation.  That has now been cancelled, so she’s raring to go ahead with the challenge at Pontardawe Swimming Pool. 

Val will be tackling 1.5km (60 lengths), while her son will tackle a longer distance. 

“We go swimming as much as we can,” said Val of the pair’s training regime. 

“But I’m also on the Park Run up in the Gnoll (Country Park in Neath).   I don’t run yet.  I’ve beaten my personal best three times since I’ve been there.  I’m walking fast. 

“I teach Yoga, I’ve done that for – a lot of years.  About 40 years.  I love it, I love my Yoga. 

“I’ve had a lot of injuries in the past, because I’m a very active lady.  My spine was injured many years ago when I fell.  The specialist told me that when I was 50 I would be in a wheelchair.  Now if somebody tells me “no”, I’ll do the complete opposite.    So all these years later – I was 20 then, I’m now 66 – and I’m still not in a wheelchair.  They’re not going to get me in one either! 

“I’m very determined, I’m a very strong character.  I’ve had a lot of things in my life that could have killed me, but didn’t.   I’m so determined, and this is what I want to do, I’m determined. We did 60 lengths this week.” 

The pair want to raise as much money as they can in memory of those family members, including her dad, who was Italian, and died when Val was aged just three, of a brain tumour. 

“They were a poor Italian family when they came over, but my grandfather did all the work on the Morgan’s hotel in Swansea,” she said.  

“All the plaster models and all that fascia is my granddad’s work.” 

Can you support Val and Andrew? Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/swimathon-2017-vmiller or /swimathon-2017-milleraj

 If you have questions about terminal illness, need support or just want to talk, call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309. It’s for anyone affected by terminal illness, including family and friends.

For further information about Swimathon including how to sign up visit:  www.Swimathon.org