TWO siblings are helping disabled youngsters learn to swim by setting themselves a year-long challenge.

Alongside their parents, Tom Welstea, seven, and his sister Grace, five, from Coombe Road in Steyning are attempting to walk, run, cycle, scoot or swim 2,014 km by the end of the year. The total length represents the straight line distance between Brighton and Casablanca.

Tom and Grace are pupils at Upper Beeding Primary School, and their parents Mike and Lindsey both work so it has been a big commitment to regularly average 50 km each week come rain or shine.

The children have enjoyed long walks after school and at weekends, cycling along the Downs Link to Shoreham, swimming at least twice a week and taking part in a scootathlon at Dorney Lake.

Tom said: “I like going out on my bike and going swimming, and it would be nice if all children could go swimming.”

And his little sister Grace added: “I really like going swimming.”

The pair are raising money for charity Level Water, who support physically disabled four to 11-year-olds.

Proud mum Lindsey said: “Level Water gives them a fair start in sport by providing them with up to fifty one-to-one swimming lessons.

“This is usually a sufficient number of lessons to enable them to join mainstream classes or competitive clubs and opens the door to a lifetime of sport.

“We chose a challenge that we could do as a family, improving our fitness and giving us quality time together but, more importantly, it has taught Tom and Grace about fundraising and disability. We are really proud of how well they are doing and how committed they have been to helping other children get started in a sport they both love.”

At the time of going to press, they have completed close to 1,400 km and are on target to finish in the autumn.

All the money raised by Tom and Grace will go directly towards opening a new site in Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill, which will make swimming accessible to disabled children in West Sussex to give them the help.

Ian Thwaites, founder of Level Water, talked about one little girl the charity is helping. He said: “Daisy has cerebral palsy. She went to the Paralympics in 2012 and watched her hero [Ellie Simmonds] win gold in the swimming. She wants to do the same, but couldn’t successfully join in with her school or local pool lessons.

“She is now physically independent in the water and has the same opportunities as any other child.

“She can swim with her friends and take the sport as far as she likes.

“Maybe she’ll have her own Paralympic gold in a few years’ time.”

To make a donation, visit justgiving.com/teamwelstead.