Lauren Simpson

What are you supporting?

Donation by donation I'm getting closer to my $1,250 fundraising goal thanks to your support and hope to be able to wear my Cantoo swimmers in my race on January 25th. Thank you to all who've donated so far.

A couple of you have asked where your donations go and it goes straight into funding the research. All admin and other costs required to keep the Cantoo Foundation running are generated by corporate sponsors and Cantoo Centurions. Cantoo Centurions who raise at least $10,000 to cover the costs of a training pod. I'm a part of the North Sydney pod and our Centurion's $10,000 donation will enable our pod to raise around $100,000. What an achievement!

I thought I'd introduce you to Dr Phillipa Taberlay who received a $100,000 grant as a result of Cantoo fundraising. Phillipa works at the Garvin Institute in Sydney and through her grant was able to look further into epigenitics or what makes a kidney cell a kidney cell despite sharing the same DNA as a skin cell. Cancer is often caused by cells behaving badly. At least that's my understanding :)

I probably should let Phillipa explain for herself so if you're interested please check out her video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhRk8V6wmsA&feature=youtu.be

I can happily say that all funds you help me raise will go straight to other young cancer researchers like Dr Taberlay. Often these young researchers struggle to receive a grant as they don't have a track record in the field but it's a catch twenty-two because they cannot get that track record without funding.

Fingers crossed I'll have my swimmers for the big race! Thanks again everyone :)

Reality Check Saturday

Going into this program I expected to be pushed to my physical limit. That preparing for a 1 km ocean swim was going to be tough on my body but with the right training achievable. I've now swum my way through 10 training sessions through which my fitness levels and technique have certainly improved. I feel stronger, fitter and excited about the next swim. But yesterday I was hit by something I didn't expect - the mental toughness it is going to take to swim 1 km in ocean swell.

We had our Saturday morning ocean swim session and due to the recent storms the swell was the largest we've seen to date in the program. Now, growing up on the Northern Beaches I've always swum in the ocean. I've always had a healthy respect for the water and its power. Mum always taught be to never turn my back on the ocean and to always look to see what's coming next. As such, I've never felt uncomfortable or fearful in the water, growing up it was a second home to me. But, yesterday, when looking up at 2m of wave about to crash on my head and needing to turn my back on it to swim into shore I felt both. I panicked. I never considered that freestyle in the ocean is nothing like in a pool. That you need to have your head down and that you can't keep your eyes open looking for the next set. That when you do look up for the next set you lose your momentum and slow yourself down making that set all that much harder. I couldn't understand how I, who grew up in the ocean, was freaking out. 

Getting out through the waves and out past the break was the biggest reality check of this program so far. I couldn't breathe and look at the waves. I couldn't get any rhythm to my strokes and my fitness struggled because my head kept popping up trying to breathe or see which messed up with my streamline position. Eventually, I managed to get out the back and was gulping in air trying to balance our all the water I'd swallowed. I hung on a trainer's board for dear life just trying to get through the next few seconds. The reprieve however, was shortlived and soon enough it was time to turn around and start the daunting task of going back in. I couldn't figure out how to breathe let along tackle the oncoming waves. However, the wonderful Nikki, mentor and swiming angel, saw that I was struggling, saw that I was in all senses of the word freaking out, and came to my rescue. She took my hand and the two of us swam back into shore. Without that support yesterday, I don't know how I would have made it.

I did this mentally and physically draining dance three times yesterday each time with Nikki and the rest of the mentors/trainers by my side, albeit last in the group, I completed the whole session. While, I felt more than a little embarassed, weak and exhausted in this life you need to celebrate the little wins. This type of swimming was something I'd never done before and I did it. I succeeded and will go out and do it all again. I've learnt a whole new respect for the ocean and for future Lauren this week. That Lauren is strong, fearless and will tackle those waves with her Cantoo Angels helping her the whole way through the race.

Why Cantoo?

So I've never been the fittest person, nor will I ever be, but this year I've signed up for a challenge. I've signed up for a 1km Ocean Swin on Australia Day 2015. Why? To challenge myself, get in shape for my sister's wedding - Sure. Definitely those reasons but to also give something back to the research that's looking after my Dad. This year I had a brush with cancer that hit me big time when Dad was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. We're one of the lucky families and Dad has come out the other side but due to the treatment he received as a result of the great research done into fighting this disease. I'm asking your help in fighting this by donating to my fundraising pool so we can support the scientists doing amazing work. 

I'm training with Can Too for the 1km Ocean Swim!

I am training for an event with Can Too, a non-profit program that matches fitness incentives with a good cause.

Beginners and experienced athletes alike are given professional coaching as part of a team to run, swim or cycle in endurance events- including 9km, half-marathon and marathon runs, triathlons, as well as ocean swims.

In return, I will raise valuable funds that go towards funding cancer researchers through Cure Cancer Australia.

‘It’s so much fun and I can’t believe I’m going to achieve this goal that I never thought possible. A great program and team support is making it possible. You Can Too!’