Water baby Ella, 2, to swim for Bradford Royal Infirmary care unit (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Water baby Ella, 2, to swim for Bradford Royal Infirmary care unit

8:00am Friday 27th July 2012 in News By Jessica Nightingale, T&A Reporter

A fearless two-year-old water baby is set to cause a splash in the Pool as she attempts her first sponsored charity swim next week.

Ella Egan, who was born at Bradford Royal Infirmary , will attempt to swim as many lengths as possible, unaided, in half an hour in an eight-metre pool, raising vital funds for the hospital’s neo-natal unit.

Jax Egan, Ella’s mum said: “She’s so tiny, she mainly swims with her head under water, and she’s that small that it’s too deep for her to touch the bottom of the pool.

“She’s got absolutely no fear. She just goes for it, she jumps off the side of the pool and she’s off.”

Ella, who will turn three in August, has already raised £350 for the unit and is hoping to raise as much money as possible.

Her mum added: “We chose to support Bradford’s neo-natal unit because of the amazing job they do saving the lives of many little ones and when Ella was born it was touch and go whether she would need to be admitted there. So I saw this as a good opportunity to give something back.”

Ella was introduced to water at 12 weeks of age and regularly attended Water Babies classes, a group which provides swimming lessons for babies.

With the help of Water Babies, Ella has come on so far with her swimming that she can now swim independently and confidently.

Mrs Egan is not sure how many lengths her daughter will manage but in the past she has swam one length of an eight-metre pool in 27 seconds.

BRI cares for extremely premature and sick babies and is one of three specialist centres in the region which provides all levels of care for babies requiring support and care which cannot be given on postnatal wards.

Ella, who now lives in Wakefield, is due to take to the waters on Thursday at Normanton Swimming Pool in Wakefield.

For more information about Ella’s challenge or to make a donation visit her JustGiving page via: justgiving.com/Ella-swimming-challenge.