Babies splash for cash (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Babies splash for cash

9:31am Monday 18th June 2007 in News By Lloyd Vaughan

BABIES across Bridgwater have been taking to the water to raise vital funds for a leading charity founded to save babies' lives.

The Brainwave Centre, Huntsworth Gate, played host to Tommy's Splashathon - an annual event for babies, toddlers and young children who are sponsored to undertake various water-related activities - on Tuesday (June 12).

Mothers and babies, who attend Waterbabies at the centre- the UK's largest national baby swimming company - took the plunge as usual, but organisers added a more challenging twist to their classes all in aid of the UK's largest baby charity Tommy's, which heads research into the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

Stephanie Girard, who runs Waterbabies locally, said: "We made it more challenging for mums by asking them to do swims together and asking for all mums to let go of their babies under the water.

"They are used to doing it individually, but we tried to build their confidence by all taking part at the same time.

"Last year we raised just over £1,600, but now we have seven times the number of mums on our books, not that we think we will raise seven times as much, but we are hoping to raise substantially more."