Isabella takes the plunge to help the starving in East Africa

AN eight-year-old girl from Lymm  will take the plunge on Sunday – knowing she has already raised more than  £1,100 to help up to 16 million people on the brink of starvation in East Africa.
Isabella Burton is to do a sponsored swim at Lymm Leisure Centre – swimming as many lengths as she can in an hour.
She originally decided to try and raise £750 but such has been the response from family, friends, and even complete strangers that she has already raised £1,105.  She hopes to raise even more when she actually does the swim.
Proud Mum Melissa said: “Isabella came up with the idea herself after seeing Matt Baker on television appealing on behalf of the Disasters Emergency Committee’s East Africa Crisis Appeal.
“She said she wanted to do something and thought of a sponsored swim. We have set up a Just Giving page called Isabella’s Big Swim at  www.Justgiving.com/Isabella-Burton  which is where most people donated.
“Anyone who wants to help can still donate there.”
Isabella, a pupil at Bowdon Prep School, attends swimming lessons at Lymm Leisure Centre and has just received her Stage 5 ASA award.
She also attends the Enid Wrigley School of Dance at Oughtrington where she does ballet and tap and is currently preparing for a show at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn, and is also a Brownie at Maple Lodge, Lymm.
Her Mum added: “Isabella would like to raise as much money as possible but understands it is also important that we spread the word – maybe encourage others to similar activities.”
The Disaster’s Emergency Committee  works by bringing 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis to provide and deliver aid.