Heart-op tot Rosanna doing swimmingly

She’s already battled for her life as a baby, now she’s continuing her fight to raise vital charity funds in the swimming pool.
Brave tot: Four-year-old heart-op youngster Rosanna Ogden is the poster girl for the British Heart FoundationBrave tot: Four-year-old heart-op youngster Rosanna Ogden is the poster girl for the British Heart Foundation
Brave tot: Four-year-old heart-op youngster Rosanna Ogden is the poster girl for the British Heart Foundation

Four-year-old Rosanna Ogden has reached her latest milestone as the poster girl for the British Heart Foundation, achieving a certificate for swimming an astonishing 600 metres.

Now her family are urging people from the Fylde coast to help little Rosanna by taking the plunge themselves next month at a sponsored swim.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Proud mum Sally, 30, said: “I feel absolutely proud of her and it’s kind of unbelievable at this age.

“Every single thing she does is just amazing.”

At just six weeks old, doctors discovered a rare tumour growing on Rosanna’s heart.

The following day she was rushed to Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she underwent a gruelling eight-hour operation.

Because of it being on Rosanna’s heart, surgeons were not able to remove the whole tumour, so she will be left with it, and the chance of it spreading, for the rest of her life.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the plucky tot has proven a little heart surgery will not stand in her way and as she’s grown she has discovered a passion for swimming and charity work.

Sally, who lives in Chorley but spends the majority of weekends with Rosanna in Blackpool, while her dad Mick deals with Fylde coast-based clients of his motor diesel business, said: “She loves water and she can stay under water for a very long time.

“If you’re chasing her you have no chance of catching her.”

In 2012 Rosanna was selected to be last year’s Fylde face of the British Heart Foundation, and she helped to raise £2,000 for the charity through collections at events, including the Elton John concert in Blackpool, and a sponsored 100m swim.

The family have also regularly spent time helping out at the BHF’s shops in Blackpool, St Annes and Cleveleys.

They have organised a sponsored swim at the David Lloyd Gym, in Chorley, on Saturday, August 16, between 5pm and 8pm.

To find out more visit www.rosannaogden.com