Blackburn girl, 7 swims half a mile for charity (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn girl, 7 swims half a mile for charity

10:54am Thursday 29th April 2010 in Belthorn By Catherine Pye , Health reporter

A SEVEN-year-old girl has been hailed a star after swimming half a mile for two charities.

Simone Ellson, a pupil of Belthorn Primary School, swam 32 lengths of the pool at Shadsworth Leisure Centre in aid of ASBAH (Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) and Action of ASD, a Burnley autism resource centre.

Mum Rennette, 43, of Queen’s Park, Blackburn, chose the charities after being reunited two old school friends.

She discovered one had a child with autism, and another a child with hydrocephalus.

Renette said: “It took Simone around 35 minutes, but we had a few technical problems with goggles were she had to swim around four or five lengths without them which slowed her down.

“I am so proud of her. She is an absolute star.”

A presentation will be held this Friday during a school assembly at Simone’s school.

There she will hand £400 in total over to Dawn and Shaun Smith, the mother and father of Harrison, who suffers from hydrocephalus, and Tracy Greenlees Smith, the mother of Elliott, who has autism. Shaun is hoping to dress up as the mascot ASBAH bear for the occasion.

Renette also has a certificate and trophy made up for Simone to mark her efforts.

Donations are still being taken at www.justgiving.com/simone7toswim32lengths.