Kintbury waterbaby makes a splash

Tiny tot's efforts raise over £4,000 for charity

A KINTBURY water baby has been named the highest fundraiser of a Splashathon, after his swim raised £4,163 – more than half the total raised in the area.

Tiny tot Jasper Cox, aged 16 months, took part in the Water Babies’ Splashathon, at The Elcot Park Hotel, near Hungerford, which raised £7,345 in aid of Tommy’s, a charity that funds research into miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

Jasper’s family lost their baby girl, born at 21 weeks old, just days before the Splashathon was announced. She was so tiny she couldn’t even take her first breath. When the family came home from the hospital and heard about Tommy’s Splashathon, they decided to embrace the challenge and were overwhelmed by the support and generosity of others.

Roxy Cox, Jasper’s mother, said: “We are so proud of our little chap for raising such a huge amount of money for such a wonderful charity.”

Saz Sunthareswaran, the director of Water Babies Oxford, said: “We are very proud of Jasper for taking part so enthusiastically and raising so much money. We’re so grateful to his family for showing great strength and find comfort that the money raised will help other babies and their families.”

One in four parents will lose a baby during pregnancy or birth.

As well as funding research, Tommy’s provides advice and support for all parents-to-be to helps them have healthy pregnancies and babies.

Donations can still be made for the Splashathon, visit www.justgiving.com/WaterBabiesSplashathon2015.