Sponsored Swim Raising Funds For Leukaemia Sufferer

Members of Swalings International School of Swimming will be swimming the equivalent of a journey to Scotland and back, to raise money for eight-year-old Bridie Armstrong from Lilliput, who has leukaemia.

Staff at the Poole based school in Dorset, hope that every child and parent enrolled on one of Swalings courses, will swim an average of a mile each for Bridie-as well as for the leukaemia department at Southampton Hospital that treat her.

Over the next two months Swimmers from three months upwards will take part in the giant sponsored swim in pools all over Poole and Bournemouth-including those involved in birthlight and parent and child classes.

Bridie’s mother, Mrs Armstrong takes her daughter to and from Southampton Hospital, where she receives her extensive treatment. She would love to see her daughter relax more during the intervals between treatments, like any normal child, but recognises the difficulties.

“Bridie absolutely adores swimming but her treatment can leave her feeling weak. We have had to borrow a DVD player for her to watch films during the trip to Southampton and back because it helps her to relax and takes her mind off of her treatments.” Mrs Armstrong continues “We are very grateful to Swalings and to their members who have agreed to join the sponsored swim and raise the money for our daughter.”

Swalings Director and Principal Teacher, Caroline Swatton, said: “Bridie has shown great courage and stamina in the face of enormous pain and adversity. We want to help in any way we can and hope that our swimmers can help to buy her her own portable DVD player so she can watch her favourite films and hopefully help her to sleep during her journeys to Southampton and to take her mind off the treatment.”

The sponsored swim organised by Swalings takes place from now until the end of July.

Swalings teach hundreds of youngsters and adults to swim every year, helping to improve swimming technique by eliminating bad habits and promoting relaxation.

Last month, Swalings also became the first swimming school in the South of England to obtain the Swimming Teachers Association (STAMark) which granted them entry to the National Federation of Swim Schools.

For more information on the sponsored swim and to help Swalings raise the money needed to help Bridie and Southampton Hospital please contact Swalings on 08707 101012, or via www.swimming-lessons.com

By Darren Northeast, Spiral PR, Tel: 01202 676762, E-mail: darren@spiralpr.co.uk