ONE youngster is hoping to make a splash when she takes to the pool to raise money for Prospect Hospice in memory of her beloved grandfather.

Six-year-old Cerys Jenkins will be taking to the water later this month in a bid to raise money for Prospect – or as she calls it the ‘special hospital where Grampy was cared for’.

Honda worker Tony Sheen, who thanked the Wroughton -based charity through the Adver earlier this year, was given just six months to live when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010. But, while support from Prospect helped him enjoy one last Christmas with his family, he died in March aged just 53.

Cerys’ mum, Becky, 31, from Stratton , said: “She still talks about Grampy, and she misses him so much.

“She’s quite sensitive and gets upset. We had a tough time trying to explain because Dad was not old. She is frightened we are going to die too and I felt like I could not promise her because it can affect anyone.

“I work at Great Western Hospital and she know Prospect is something different so she calls it the special hospital.

“The swim was all Cerys’ idea, and it blew us away when she came up with it.

“We were on holiday and were talking about Dad and shet said she would like to raise some money, as several members of the family have, for Prospect.

“She’s a good swimmer for her age and it seemed the logical thing for her to do. She decided that she would try to swim 20 widths of Dorcan Leisure Centre, and that she would hope to raise £100 for Grampy’s special account – the Bluebell Tribute Fund for Dad that all the money we have raised so far for Prospect Hospice goes into.

“That’s a lot of money to her but she’s raised £250 already so it’s fantastic.”

Cerys’ swim will be particularly poignant as it takes place just after what would have been Tony’s 54th birthday.

Becky said: “Me and her dad Gareth are hugely proud of Cerys for this. I think it will give her a boost to focus on doing something positive around the time of his birthday.”

Since Tony died, members of the family have been helped by the hospice’s family support team, and in return they have taken part in the Starlight Walk, a Total Warrior challenge and Becky’s brother Luke and husband Gareth will both run the Swindon Half Marathon in October to raise funds.

All money that has been raised to date by the Sheen family and their friends and Tony’s colleagues at Honda have gone into the Hospice’s Bluebell Tribute Fund in his memory.

To sponsor Cerys visit www.justgiving.com/cerys6.