Plucky Uckfield girl in pier to pier swim to help baby unit
Plucky 13-year-old Jade Earley from Uckfield is planning to swim nearly a mile between the two piers at Brighton to raise funds for a special care baby unit.
Initially Jade, who is in Year 8 at Uckfield Community Technology College, was due to undertake the challenge on July 16 but the challenge was postponed because of poor weather. It is now due to take place on Saturday, July 30.
Jadehas wanted to help the Trevor Mann ward, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, for many years because her younger brother and sister both spent time there.
The teenager, pictured below, is a competitive swimmer and triathlete and spends two hours every night swimming in a pool but she wanted a tougher challenge for her fund-raising event and liked the idea of the sea swim.
Mum Nyree said her heart was in her mouth as she watched Jade tackle the swim last weekend.
“One minute she was on the swell and then we couldn’t see her for a little while. It was so hard watch but she loves swimming and is very good at it and has wanted to do this for a long time. I am so proud of her,” she said.
The Earley family - Nyree, husband Mark, Jade, Joolz (age seven) Joel (six) and Gemma, 18 months - live at Harland Mews, Uckfield.
Joel spent the first four weeks of his life on the Trevor Mann intensive care ward - the picture, top, is of him, and Jade knows his life was saved there. Little Gemma spent four days there too.
“These baby units are so precious and need so much money to help these babies and get them home to their families,” says Jade on her Just Giving Page where people are able to read more about her reason for taking on the challenge and to pledge sponsorship too.
Initially Jade, who went to St Philip's Primary School, hoped to raise £1,000 but she has already reached £1,160 and set herself a new £1,500 target.
See also:
Cashless catering system set up at Uckfield Community Technology College
New homes idea for horse rescue trust land in Uckfield
Children watch as historic charter signed in Uckfield
(Added to site Wednesday, June 15th, 2011)
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