Lennox Booth is seven years old and full of energy and fun. He is also very kind and caring and loves to help other people. On Friday, March 28 at the Leisure Centre in Rye he swam 16 lengths to raise funds and awareness for two cancer-related charities.
I asked his mother Emily what had motivated him to do this. “Although he was not born when his nan had cancer he knew about it and his friend’s mum has just finished her last lot of chemo after breast cancer and is cancer-free now. It is something we have talked about and also what a crippling and painful disease cancer is. To be honest, we just said to him it would be a great idea to put his strengths and energy into something good and raise money for people who are poorly. He doesn’t really understand what cancer is: he just knows it makes people very sick and so he wanted to help people get better.”
Which charities did Lennox choose?
He chose these two charities, Cancer Research and Marie Curie.
When did he decide to swim the sixteen lengths of the local pool?
Swimathon is an organised event and John, his dad, did it last year, so Lennox wanted to do it with him this time. Lennox completed his lengths in fifteen minutes and two seconds.
Did he have to do much training?
He swims once a week for Hastings Seagulls as a swimming lesson anyway but has done a bit of extra swimming at Rye of an evening too.
Who did he swim with?
He swam with Flo, a friend, and his dad John swam just before him: he did sixty lengths.
How much has he raised?
He has raised over £350.
What’s his next challenge?
I’m not sure yet: he is busy with football for a little while now but I am sure he will do something again in the future.
You must be very proud of your son. Do you think he will motivate others to do similar challenges?
I am so proud of him. So many of his school friends came to watch and have said how well he has done so hopefully they will be inspired.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported him and donated. It’s very much appreciated.”
Image Credits: KT Bruce .