A nine-year-old fundraiser has raised over £1000 after completing a charity swim event.
Edie Allpress, from Builth Wells, swam an incredible 1500m at Builth Wells Pool on May 6, for Swimathon UK.
Edie was one of over 21,000 swimmers who headed to pools across the UK, to raise money for Swimathon’s charity partners, Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
The young swimmer entered the pool at 6pm and just 48 minutes later had swam 1500m - the equivalent length of almost 15 football pitches!
A spokesperson for Swimathon UK said via their Facebook page: “Wow absolutely incredible work Edie. A big, big thank you to every single one of us at Swimathon, Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie for all of the incredible work which you have done. Keep it up!”
All of the swimmers’ results are posted on a national leaderboard. Since Edie raised over £1000 on her JustGiving page, she will receive free entry to the 2023 event, and will also be put into a prize draw for a 1-2-1 with Duncan Goodhew MBE, who is CEO of Swimathon UK.
As part of being a ‘Top Fundraiser’ Edie was also sent a special letter, swim towel and a golden swimming hat, which she can wear with pride and hopefully inspire more people to sign up for next year.
After her exhausting Friday evening, Edie said: “Next year we want to enter as a family team. It’s only 500m more than I did with my mum and dad tonight, so I’m going to get my brothers involved next year - surely they can do 500m between them, I should hope?
“I’d like to thank the team at Builth Wells Swimming Pool and Sports Centre - they looked after me all evening and made me feel really special. They cheered me as I got out of the pool and it really helped me to see them!”
Edie had plenty of support from her friends, family and the wider community for her fundraising efforts, including her teachers at Newbridge CinW School.
Miss Pugh, Miss Fell and deputy head Miss Williams all sent their best wishes to Edie, adding how proud they were of her amazing achievement.
Edie also took her medal into school for a Q&A the following Monday. She was glad to answer all her friends’ questions and pass around her medal - perhaps inspiring even more children and families to take part in next year’s Swimathon.
“My teachers are the best,” said Edie. “Newbridge School is a special place where I have always felt special, and that I can achieve anything!”
“We are very proud parents right now,” added Blue and Alex Allpress, of Builth Wells.
Edie currently has raised £1154 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie, and there is still time to support Edie via her fundraising page on Just Giving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/edieallpress1648972072971