Paralympic hopeful backs school's pool campaign (From Bucks Free Press)

Lucy Chenery backs school's pool campaign

5:40pm Saturday 3rd December 2011 in Education By Lawrence Dunhill

Lucy Chenery

A PARALYMPIC hopeful has backed a special school's campaign to raise enough cash to build a swimming pool.

Lucy Chenery, a former head girl of Alfriston School in Beaconsfield, urged people to support the effort, saying it will help other girls follow in her footsteps.

The 16-year-old, who has delayed development which affects her classroom abilities, is ranked in the top 30 Paralympic 200m swimmers.

She is one of the youngest members of the Great Britain squad.

Lucy, who lives in Aylesbury, said: “I could never have got where I am today if it were not for the support and skills of the teachers at the school. When I started at Alfriston I couldn’t even run between two trees”.

“If Alfriston had a pool on site it would have made my life a lot easier and I wouldn’t have needed to get up before 5pm, three school mornings each week to train....Even a rowing machine at the school would have made all the difference.”

Lucy’s Mum, Jane, said: “The school gained sports college status a couple of years ago and the pleasure sport gives these girls is life-changing. It gives the parents hope too.

“The school just needs the resources to help the students flourish and a swimming pool would make so much difference, not just for the girls but also disadvantaged people within the local community and other disability groups.”

Alfriston is a state school for girls with learning difficulties and associated disabilities on Penn Road.

It already has planning permission for the pool, but is trying to raise £390,000 to help complete the project, having received more than £150,000 so far.

For more information see www.project-splash.org.uk or phone 01494 673740.