WHILE she stands in front of the dazzling BBC One cameras during Children in Need tonight, a Swindon girl will be thinking only of those she has raised money for.

Sophie-May Bates-Barrett, eight, has raised £200 for the charity appeal by walking and cycling two laps of Coate Water earlier this month.

Her mother, Samantha-Jane Barrett, 28, of Beech Avenue, Pinehurst, proved the inspiration, as she is an ardent fundraiser herself.

The Ferndale Community Primary School pupil has attracted the attention of the Beeb, with cameras tracking her journey around the lake and inviting her to tonight’s regional live show in Gloucester.

She is expected to be interviewed by Points West anchor Alex Lovell, but mum Samantha-Jane said her daughter is not one for the limelight.

“She is one of those children who wants to help everyone, but doesn’t like the limelight. She wants it to be about helping other children, not her,” said mother-of-two mum Samantha-Jane.

Sophie-May has grown up watching her mum devote much of her own free time to charities around Swindon, following her own health scare as a nine-year-old.

She was diagnosed with a teratoma on her ovary, which was found before cancer could strike, but the scare encouraged Samantha-Jane to decide to help others.

“I try to do as much as I can with any charities. I’ve always done stuff around Swindon,” she said.

There are plans afoot for 2016, with a fundraising fun day to help Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement (CALM).

Her daughter had been asking for ideas on how to help others, and they decided on a double loop of Coate Water, which came in a little under four-and-a-half miles.

The gauntlet was thrown down for Sophie-May on November 1 and, despite tiredness setting in towards the end, at no stage did she consider quitting.

“She got tired towards the end, but at no stage did she sulk or say she didn’t want to do it. She just got on with it,” her mum said.

With help from her school and some of Samantha-Jane’s friends at the Queen’s Tap in Station Road, £200 was sent off to Terry Wogan and Co.

“She had asked me about the money raised and I told her we are trying to do £50, or £100 would be absolutely amazing,” said Sophie-May, adding that £50 can be used to let a child with a brain tumour play outside.

“I told her what could be done with each amount. I said £50 could be used to enable a child with a brain tumour to play outside.

“Then when I told her she had raised £200, the first thing she said was we can help four children now. That shows she’s been thinking about it.”