A DISABLED nine-year-old from Bearwood is swimming 21 miles to raise £200 towards a swimming pool he uses to train as a future paralympic hopeful.

Zack Sturgess, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy and a rare genetic disorder called Microduplication 22q11.2, uses the pool at Moordown St John’s School on Vicarage Road every week.

Earlier this year, the school launched a campaign to raise £25,000 in a bid to pay for the repairs and improvement works needed to keep the pool open for the estimated 700 swimmers who use it.

Zack heard that pupils from the school plan to take on the challenge of swimming the 21-mile distance of the Channel and as he is home-schooled due to his disabilities, he decided to try and complete it alone. Each time he goes in the pool, he adds up the distance he has swum to a chart he keeps at home.

His proud mum, Deby, says that her son finds the pool ‘therapeutic’. She added: “I’m an ex-swimmer and it is extremely good exercise for him. He is happiest when he is in the water. The change in him from when he started swimming around four years ago is amazing. We like this pool because it’s quiet and it’s contained so we would be really upset if it had to close.

“His swimming teacher, Sharon, thought that Zack probably had some potential to be a paralympic swimmer and put him forward for it. They wanted to come and see him about a year ago and now they are keeping in touch with Sharon to see how he is getting on. I’m very proud of him.”

Sharon Abley, from Bournemouth Swim School, said: “I have taught Zack for four years and despite all his various disabilities, I have always taught him as a mainstream student. I went on a disability awareness course last year and they mentioned about putting forward any children who could have the potential of swimming in the Paralympics. The man came down and Zack was put through various tests before he went to Southampton in September and again the man was blown away by what he can do.

“I teach swimming at the school and the environment is perfect for children with disabilities. We’re also hoping that we can deepen the pool so that Zack can continue training here as he gets older and he can use it for diving as well.”

For more information, go to Crowdfunding.justgiving.com/zack-sturgess-save-my-pool