A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy is again making a splash for charity after swimming a lung-busting five miles.

Oliver Williams, from Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, completed the ‘Swim the Distance’ challenge by swimming about 322 lengths in total.

Two years ago the big-hearted lad raised £1,600 for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation by donating his £4 tooth fairy money and asking friends and family to match it.

His inspiration is grandmother Norma Ing, who suffers from small cell lung cancer and is said to be “overwhelmed” by her grandson’s efforts.

Oliver’s latest fund raiser has seen him raise about £2,200 for the charity and he now wants to get to the £5,000 mark.

The nine year-old began the swim challenge on November 6 and has been putting in three times a week sessions after school.

The Rainbow Leisure Centre, in Coulby Newham, and Thornaby Pool both helped by offering complementary use of their pools.

Oliver has been joined on occasions by his dad Stephen, granddad John Yarker, younger brother Jack, as well as friends from his school, Ingleby Mill Primary School.

His mother Jenny said: “After he raised his tooth fairy money he has been waiting for something to really excite him so he can get more sponsorship money for the Roy Castle Lung cancer foundation.

“He originally said he would do a mile swim and I said ‘That’s not pushing you let’s go for five’, not realising how far it is for a nine year-boy to swim. But he has done it.

“He is shattered, he was complaining the other day that his shoulder and his arms were aching. I told him it was just growing pains, but to fair to him he had done about 90 lengths that week.”

“We managed to get his mates and family members in the pool because it can be a bit dull swimming by yourself.

“Norma has been sat there supporting him, counting the lengths. She is just so proud of him.”

Anyone wanting to pledge to Oliver should visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/Baba