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Swimming for Parkinson's – My Journey, My Mission

  • Swim Update Feb 2026

      19 February 2026

    Since my last update I have been continuing to work through my elbow tendon injury and slowly improving. Yesterday I chose to get a cortisone injection which will hopefully give me the best chance of completing this mission. I have also moved out my swim window to the 15th to 22nd April which gives me a couple of extra weeks to train. The challenge has definitely gotten tougher but is still on. Thanks everyone for their support its great having so many wonderful people behind you which makes what I am trying to achieve that much easier.

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  • Working towards the end goal

      7 January 2026

    With every mission there will be setbacks. Mine has come in the form of an elbow tendon injury which kept me out of the water for 2 weeks and has meant a very slow gradual return to swimming. With roughly 11 weeks left until the big swim it will mean playing a bit of catch up later on but for now it's important I take things slowly. I'm currently up to doing 1 km swims again so way off where I need to be but hopefully enough time left. I'm getting used to having to overcome obstacles having has a stent in March 2025 and then later diagnosed with Parkinsons. What is keeping me going is the end goal as well as the generous donations so far to the cause. I will press on to make sure I make the start line and give it everything I've got. Thanks again to everyone supporting me. And BTW Happy New Year I hope 2026 allows you to tick off some of your own goals.

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  • Thanks for all the support so far.

      26 August 2025

    Just wanted to say a big thank you for all the support from everyone it means so much. My training has been going well, and I am really just at the stage where I am building a base for the big milage still to come. I have been working with a coach to try and improve my technique which will hopefully make a big difference for this swim. For those of you haven't yet shared my page please do so as the more people I can reach the more awareness I can hopefully create for Parkinsons NZ as well as raise funds. This week I have a meeting with an educator from Parkinsons NZ which will be beneficial to increasing my understanding of the disease and my management plan. Again, thanks and love to you all. Dean

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