Charlie's swimming challenge
08 Jun Archive
Previously the Chelsea Children’s Hospital Charity, we re-launched as The Children’s Surgery Foundation in 2019 to reflect the national scope of our work today. The story below is from our days as the Chelsea Children’s Hospital Charity.
We’re thrilled that two young boys will soon be undertaking swimming challenges to fundraise for children at the hospital. And what's more, they'll both be swimming for us on the same day - 16th June!
As well as little Mason Hicks, whom we've featured previously, Charlie Wilford, who’s eight, will soon be braving the water at his local pool.
“Charlie was born with multiple problems, mainly to do with his bowels and bladder,” says mum Rachael, who is a scrub nurse.
“After a lot of searching we found a team of amazing doctors and nurses at Chelsea Children’s Hospital who could help him with pioneering surgery.
"Charlie has received amazing care here since he was a newborn, and now he is eight, he is starting to understand more about his condition.
“Despite his complex needs, Charlie started swimming lessons last autumn, and has just earnt his 25m badge. He has decided that he would like to raise money to help more babies who had problems like him to get better quickly, and he wants to swim 100 metres as a sponsored event to raise money for Chelsea Children’s Hospital Charity.
"This is four times what he has managed to do to date! Charlie is going to do this unaided. He is not allowed to stop mid length but can have a brief pause at each end to catch his breath!
Charlie will be doing his sponsored swim on 16th June. Please consider donating!”
We’re so impressed that Charlie is taking on this challenge for us, and really admire his grit and determination. Charlie has already raised over £350 – can you help him reach his total?
