A LOCAL MP who was born with a congenital disability is set to embark on a mammoth swim in order to raise money for a new accessible changing room.

Marie Tidball, who represents Penistone and Stocksbridge, will swim seven kilometres - the distance between the two locations - for Stocksbridge Leisure Centre.

She was born with a congenital disability, which affects all four limbs, and has foreshortened arms and legs, with one digit on each hand.

When she was a child she missed three years of school because of the critical surgeries she needed, making her swim even more remarkable.

The swim, which is the equivalent of 280 lengths at the venue’s pool, will take place at the end of the month.

Marie said: “Never in my wildest dreams, when I was doing swim training three times a week as a 14-year-old, would I have believed that one day I’d become the MP for the area.

“I want to give back to the place that gave me so much by helping to fundraise to make the swimming pool more accessible for local disabled people.

“Increasing access to sport for local disabled children and young people is something I’m passionate about.

“When I was at school in Penistone, I was left to referee netball and hockey matches for my non-disabled classmates - there was no understanding that I might be able to join in too, as a disabled person.

“That’s why inclusive sport is so important to me.

“Seven kilometres, or four-and-a-half miles, is 280 lengths of the pool, and the distance from Penistone to Stocksbridge - two of the main towns in my constituency.

“Raising the target goal of £7,000 would contribute approximately 20 per cent of the total cost of £35,000 to convert an existing room in at the leisure centre into a fully accessible changing room.”