SPLASHING EFFORT: by Ashley Prior, eight, above and below.
A young Berkhamsted swimmer has shown her support for the Hospice of St. Francis by completing a sponsored swim.
Ashley Prior, eight, of Hazel Road, is nicknamed the carp by her family and swam a massive 100 lengths at Berkhamsted Sportspace pool raising more than £500.
Proud mum Jo, whose stepfather was cared for at the Hospice of St Francis, said Ashley loved to be able to help.
She said: "She really enjoyed raising that money for them.
"She did struggle to do those 100 lengths but she got it. My mother's husband died in May after a three-year battle with cancer and it inspired Ashley."
Ashley, who attends St Mary's School in Northchurch, undertook a similar challenge last year. Jo said: "She managed
to raise more than last year. She feels very comfortable in the water and swims at Kernel and Maxwell's Swimming Club where she's just broken two club records.
"She loves the water, she's a bit of a fish and she's been swimming since she was six weeks old.
"We call her the carp because she loves sweetcorn and bread so much! She's got some major races coming up in the new year but I'm sure she'll do something more for the hospice in the future."
Ashley also attended the new hospice building's ground-breaking ceremony last year and Jo said she hoped she would be there for the opening of the new £2.5m purpose-built premises.
HeraldExpress readers have now raised an impressive £349,389 towards the Dig Deep Campaign for the hospice up from £343,606 the previous week.
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