BABIES will be splashing for charity cash during special swimming lessons next week.

From July 6 until July 9, babies and toddlers at the Swindon Water Babies group will be taking part in the Splashathon – a fundraising event for baby charity, Tommy’s.

The youngsters will be sponsored to undertake water-based challenges to fund vital research into stillbirth, premature birth and miscarriage, which Tommy’s carries out.

The classes, at the Swim Centre and the Marriott Hotel, run by Clare Southworth and Steve Partridge, will see babies, from birth to three years of age, being set challenges they have never completed before, including swimming through a hoop, gathering floating balls, or swimming underwater.

There is also a pirate fancy dress theme with swashbuckling bandanas and fake moustaches expected to be in the mix.

The aim is to raise £10,000 towards a national total for Tommy’s as Water Babies nationally hopes to smash its previous national fundraising record of £491,000.

Clare Southworth and Steve Partridge, the Swindon Water Babies franchisees, said: “Splashathon helps to raise funds for a really important cause, as well as being a lot of fun for everyone involved."

If you would like to sponsor babies taking part, please go online and visit www.justgiving.com/Waterbabies-Gloucestershire-North-Wiltshire-2015, or text IVJB63, with the amount you would like to donate, to 70070.

“We plan to make 2015 a record breaking year in terms of funds raised and can’t wait to see the children in action in the Swim Centre pool and the Marriott Hotel pool, splashing about and having fun, all in the name of charity.

“We hope the local community will dig deep to sponsor the children taking part.”

Jane Brewin, chief executive of Tommy’s, said: “Splashathon has become such a fixture in our calendar and it’s always great to hear how much fun everyone has.

“Its success is down to Water Babies and its clients throwing their weight behind it and showing a real passion for our cause.

“We’d like to thank the franchisee and all the families for taking part and helping Tommy’s to save more babies’ lives.”