A Cilcennin woman who has diagnosed with breast cancer will make a splash by taking part in a swim in the sea with family and friends on Sunday to raise money for the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.
Emma Brooke, 36, wants to raise money for the unit to say thank you after finishing her treatment for breast cancer.
The group will take the plunge at 1.30pm at New Quay beach on 3 October.
Emma, a project support officer, said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in February.
“Following a mastectomy and lymph removal in March, I started chemotherapy at the end of May.
“The care I received from the staff on the chemotherapy unit throughout my treatment was exceptional and I will never be able to thank them enough.
“I wanted to raise a bit of money for the unit to show my appreciation and my friend suggested I tried sea swimming to help with my recovery, as well as my mental and physical health.
“So, I thought I’d combine the two and do the sea swim as a celebration of the end of my treatment and to raise some money at the same time.
“I also wanted to raise awareness and share my story to help others going through the same thing.”
Emma said wild water swimming had been a big challenge.
“I have never swum in the sea up until recently as I’m scared of the sea and being out of my depth," she added.
“I haven’t set a particular length to swim as I wasn’t sure how well I’d be after finishing treatment.”
Nicola Llewelyn, head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said everyone was cheering Emma on on Sunday for her challenge.
“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive,” Nicola said.
Emma said: “Having just finished treatment for breast cancer I am wishing to raise money for the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Bronglais Hospital as a way of saying thank you.
“Nothing will ever be enough to show my appreciation to the staff on the unit but I’m hoping with the monies raised it goes someway to showing how appreciative I am.
“The care I received was second to none and I will be forever grateful to them for all their care and help.”
Emma has set a fundraising target of £500 for her challenge.
For information and to donate to Emma’s fundraising swim, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmmaBrooke5/1
For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk