10 year old to swim the virtual English Channel for children born with half a heart

Jemima Robinson, an ambitious 10 year old from Cleobury Mortimer, has been busy swimming for charity, with the aim of swimming the length of the English Channel.

The swimming challenge, named The Big Hearted Swimathon, is a campaign initiated by Little Hearts Matter, a charity that supports families when their child has only half a heart.

The ambitious swimathon is a very important challenge for Jemima as her younger brother Samuel was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, so she's swimming to raise awareness and funds for children with complex heart conditions.

Jemima said: "I was only one and a half when my brother Samuel was born with a poorly heart. He has had to have lots of big operations that meant he and mum and dad were away from home a lot. Little Hearts Matter do lots to help families like mine, like writing booklets about heart conditions and they arrange open days where we meet other children with hearts like Samuels and their brothers and sisters too.

"I am hoping to raise £100 to help other families like mine by taking part in the Swimathon. My aim is to swim the full 22 miles by the end of August - which is the same as swimming across the Channel!"

Jemima has been swimming since the age of five and is taking up the challenge at Ludlow Swimming Club.

For more information about The Big Hearted Swimathon and to take part, visit: www.lhm.org.uk, email: info@lhm.org.uk or telephone: 0121 455 8982