A WHEELCHAIR-bound youngster with cerebral palsy has vowed to do her bit to help two worthy causes close to her heart.

Steffanie Smith, 11, has little use of her legs but that will not stop her when she takes part in a sponsored swim at Pendle Leisure Centre, Colne, on January 22. Steffanie, of Railway Street, Nelson, is aiming to complete between eight and 12 lengths of the pool in aid of the special baby care unit at Burnley General Hospital and the Burnley and Pendle branch of Headway, the national organisation for people who have suffered head injuries.

Steffanie, a pupil at Primet High School, Colne, was born 10 weeks premature and was treated in the baby care unit. A year after she was born her grandfather, Kevern Beck, suffered a brain haemorrhage and his wife, Lorna, started up the local Headway branch. Steffanie has been a member of Headway for five years.

Her mum, Linda Simcock, said: "She is determined to do something to help the baby unit and Headway.

"She could do more lengths but we decided to limit it to 12. She goes for swimming lessons every week at the leisure centre and really enjoys it.

"She mostly does breast-stroke and backstroke and uses just her arms to pull herself along."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Steffanie or wanting to find out more about Headway can contact Mrs Simcock on 01282 693673.

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