A local boy, who is nearing the end of his cancer treatment, has helped raise over £33,000 for a chemotherapy treatment room at the Royal United Hospital in Bath (RUH) through a Swim to Space challenge.
Finley-Jack, 10, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL) in December 2022. To mark the end of his cancer journey, he asked his swimming club, Creative Aquatic in Tytherington, to take part in swimming 100km in 48 hours – the equivalent distance it would take to swim to space and back – to raise money for a private chemotherapy room for children at the RUH and an additional member of staff to run it.
In total, 120 children and adults participated, raising over £33,000 towards the room, which will cost the RUH more than £60,000 in total.
Finley-Jack swam 205 lengths alongside his swimming teacher, Meg. All those who took part were given a Swim to Space t-shirt, medal and water bottle.
“It was really brilliant,” said his mum, Hayley. “He wouldn’t have been able to complete it without Meg. Throughout Finley-Jack’s cancer journey, Creative Aquatic has supported him and us as a family. Simone Benhayon, the owner of Creative Aquatic, contacted me last year and asked if there was anything she could do to help us, and I mentioned doing a sponsored swim️ for charity.
“When this cause came up, we knew we wanted to support it. Everyone who knows Simone knows she makes everything big and amazing and gives her all. So, I knew it was going to be impressive but nothing prepared me for the amount of money we received and the amount of support we have received; it has been overwhelming.”
Since Finley-Jack’s diagnosis, he has been busy raising funds for charity and awareness of ALL and has raised over £40,000. Last year he took part in the Bath Half Marathon with his dad for Time is Precious, a charity which works closely with the children’s ward and oncology team at the RUH, where Finley-Jack is receiving treatment.
Now, as he comes to end of treatment, Hayley said that the Swim to Space challenge was his final fundraising event.
“We, as a family, have decided we will be stepping back from any more fundraising; Finley-Jack’s treatment will finish on 18th January. Finley-Jack is still in remission, but is closely monitored still by his oncology team.
“Finley-Jack says a big thank you to everyone!”
Pictured below: Finley-Jack with swimming instructors Eric and Meg
