A LEISURE centre in Hampshire has teamed up with a charity to bring accessible swimming lessons to people who are artificially fed. 

Kim Perkis, from Face Everything And Rise (FEAR), is arranging swimming sessions for children, adults and their friends and family who are artificially fed or are receiving treatment via a central line and previously have not been able to access swimming pools.

The charity has received special funding and equipment from Sport England and Cash for Kids to support affected families venturing to the water.

People will be able to get into the water whilst keeping medical equipment safe, dry, and reducing the risk of infections.

READ MORE: Hampshire ice swimmers make record-breaking performances at world championships

Kim said: “When you are artificially fed, accessing swimming becomes extremely difficult for a lot of families. Whether you have to wear specialised drysuits or have feeding tubes 'on show’, swimming can leave you feeling vulnerable to people staring.

“This is why Face Everything and Rise (FEAR) now run monthly swimming events, across England, exclusively for children and adults (and their families) who are artificially fed; providing opportunities for families to swim with confidence and privacy, in a fun environment.

“To have a leading leisure company, such as Places Leisure, now fully support the use of drysuits across their swimming pools is huge! It now means that no one misses out on the joy of swimming, because of needing to wear a drysuit in the water. It’s life-changing.”

The first event was run with the support of Sam Holdaway, Danny Churcher and Ian Souch at Romsey Rapids and included more than 100 attendees, with some having travelled more than 150 miles.

SEE ALSO: Woman who gifted Faberge Egg to Queen Mother celebrates 103rd birthday

Mark Haslam, head of swimming and sport at Places Leisure said: “Our partnership with Kim Purkis and FEAR just made sense.

“We want to bring swimming and more generally, fitness, to everyone we possibly can. Putting the right sessions, instructors, and equipment in place to allow some people to swim for the first time is just fantastic to see.

“We can’t wait to keep putting on these sessions and expanding them across our pools nationwide.”

Romsey Rapids will be hosting further swimming lessons on March 25, April 15, July 22, August 29 and December 29.