By Robert Edwards

Babies and children in the Weymouth area are participating in a ‘Splashathon’ fundraiser to raise money for baby’s charity Tommy’s.

Boys and girls from 6 weeks to 4 years who take part in sessions organised by Water Babies Dorset & Salisbury will be sponsored to swim a width in fancy dress in Peppa Pig pirates and princesses-themed swimming lessons.

The ‘Splashathon’ fundraiser at the end of June is in conjunction with Water Babies, which runs multi-award-winning baby swimming classes.

It now currently teaches more than 50,000 babies and toddlers to swim each week across the UK including at sessions held in Weymouth at Wyvern Academy and Moonfleet Manor Hotel.

The aim of the fundraiser is to raise £1,000,000 to help fund Tommy’s vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.

The money raised from this year’s Splashathon will also help fund a new centre dedicated to ensuring the best maternity care is available to every parent, every baby, everywhere.

Steven Pugh, Franchisee of Water Babies Dorset & Salisbury, said: “At Water Babies Dorset & Salisbury we are all really excited to be taking part in the Tommy’s Splashathon.

“We are aiming to raise £2,500 and £1,000,000 nationally and give the boys and girls a really exciting class whilst the children fundraise to save other babies’ lives.”

In 2017, Splashathon raised £1.175 million for Tommy’s; enough to run Tommy’s National Miscarriage Research Centre, the largest of its kind in Europe, for two and half years.

Jane Brewin, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, said: “Splashathon is a great way for mums and dads to involve their little ones in a good cause.

“Water Babies and their clients have supported Tommy’s for 13 years helping us to pioneer research to make pregnancy and birth safer for mums and babies.”

For more information about classes run by Water Babies Dorset & Salisbury call 01258 458520 or email surfing@waterbabies.co.uk