THERE were waves of support for brave youngster Lexi Hopkin as youngsters took part in a mass swim in Dorchester.

More than 25 little swimmers took part in the Lengths for Lexi event, which was raising money to create special memories for the eight-year-old who is bravely battling an inoperable brain tumour.

Lexi took to the water herself at the event, which was held at the 1610 Dorchester Sports Centre.

It was organised by Lexi’s aunt Sam Hillier after her daughter Carmen came up with the idea of doing a swimming event.

They called on friends and family to help show their support and in total 27 youngsters aged between one and 13 took part in the sponsored swim.

Proud auntie Sam said: “It is purely family and friends of Lexi who are just doing it to make memories for her.”

She added that she was particularly pleased to see little Lexi taking part.

Sam said: “She wasn’t going to take part but she said she wanted to do five lengths herself.”

Sam said she wanted to thank the sports centre operators 1610 for allowing the swimmers to use the learner pool free of charge for the event so all the money raised went directly to Lexi’s funds.

She said that all the youngsters who took part were all presented with a medal at the end of the event, inscribed with ‘Lengths for Lexi swimmers 2015’.

Sam said: “They all got a gold medal for participating.”

Lexi, from Wool, was diagnosed with the tumour in January and showed huge courage to present a petition signed by 20,000 calling for services at Dorset County Hospital to be protected to health bosses at the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group in September.

So far Lexi’s friends and family have raised an amazing amount of around £15,000 so they can create special family memories for the youngster.

To support the campaign and make a donation visit youcaring.com/family-fundraiser/-chasing-the-sun-lexi-may-hopkin-age-7/299459