Aiden Boka, a 12-year-old boy from Brecon, is swimming the 111-mile distance from his home to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he undergoes treatment for a lifelong liver condition.

Aiden’s condition sometimes makes it difficult for him to walk, meaning he has to use a wheelchair. Despite this, he enjoys staying active and even riding his bike. On his toughest days, even going for a walk can feel impossible.

Aiden is currently taking on the challenge of raising money for a special attachment that will transform his wheelchair into an electric bike, allowing him to enjoy playing with his friends.

Understanding that the attachment was too expensive for his family to afford, Aiden decided to take on a sponsored swim - one of his passions.

“Aiden decided he could do a swim because he’s good at swimming,” said Aiden’s mum, Annabelle Ellis.

“In a swimming pool he becomes a different person because the weight on your body changes.

“He said to me, ‘I could swim to hospital’ and I told him that’s crazy you can’t do that, maybe you could swim the distance to Cardiff Hospital, and he went ‘no I want to challenge myself and I’m going to swim to Birmingham.’

“I was pretty flabbergasted. He understood the situation that we can’t afford the attachment and that it was such a large sum of money.”

Aiden has already started the swim and has made significant progress toward the 111 miles.

Annabelle said: “He has started swimming - we are planning to do the swim as a family. He has friends who are helping him, sponsoring him and swimming with him. It’s the most amazing challenge and I just want to tell everybody just how amazing he is!

“I am unbelievably proud of him. He has put so much inspiration into me and others. Even in my life I struggle to put one foot in front of the other, but Aiden, he might have a bad day, but he will still come out with a smile.”

Aiden swims 50 lengths most nights, and the family expects it will take him two to three months to complete the swim.

Annabelle has also said that the rest of the family will stand in for him if he becomes too ill.

“We never know what’s around the corner with him,” she said.

“The poor little lad suffers a lot, but if we can get this adaptation and make his life fulfilling enough that will be great and when his friends are out riding their bikes, he can keep up and be the same as them. That’s what life should be about, especially for a 12-year-old boy.”

“He takes me by surprise a lot, because he has such a hard time, but he really does live for every day,” added Annabelle.

Aiden and his family have completed more than 900 lengths, raising more than £800 on Aiden’s fundraising page.

If you would like to donate to Aiden’s fundraiser, please go to: www.gofundme.com/f/sponsor-me-to-swim-to-birmingham