I'm swimming because I want to make a difference to bowel cancer prevention and early detection.

In my role as a gastroenterologist, I have seen first-hand the high rates of bowel cancer in Australia, particularly early onset bowel cancer. I am proud to support the mission of the Jodi Lee Bowel Cancer Foundation to prevent bowel cancer and save lives through prevention and early detection.

Fellow gastroenterologist Sam Costello and I will be swimming 20km as a duo in the Geo Bay Swim, which begins in Dunsborough Western Australia and follows a course though Geographe Bay towards the Busselton Jetty. The race is a big challenge for Sam and I and we have been hitting the ocean around Adelaide over Winter in preparation!

Early onset bowel cancer touched Sam and I closely when our close friend and anaesthetist Rick Champion was diagnosed in his late 30's. This was surprising and devastating and every year a group of us gathers to celebrate and commemorate Rick's life and achievements.

Any donation you can make, no matter how small, can make a big difference in educating Australians about the prevention and early detection of bowel cancer.