A teaching assistant has presented a cheque for almost £4,000 to the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity, having completed a 5,000-metre sponsored swim in support of a pupil battling cancer.

Lucy Pinkstone, who works at St Christopher School in Letchworth, has raised £3,985 specifically for oncology and the children's Bluebell Ward at Stevenage's Lister Hospital, where pupil Roisin has had treatment for leukaemia over the last two years.

The Comet: L-R: Beth McNeil from the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals' Charity, nurse Adele - who cared for Roisin and Lucy - Roisin and Lucy. Credit: Supplied by Lucy PinkstoneL-R: Beth McNeil from the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals' Charity, nurse Adele - who cared for Roisin and Lucy - Roisin and Lucy. Credit: Supplied by Lucy Pinkstone (Image: Supplied by Lucy Pinkstone)

Roisin joined Lucy for the first 50 metres of the swimathon, which Lucy said gave her "great encouragement" to keep going and complete a further 198 lengths.

The money raised will go towards buying items to entertain young patients, such as iPads, game consoles and televisions, as well as going towards paying for events such as bowling and parties for sick children and their families.

Lucy, who survived childhood cancer herself, said: "The Bluebell Ward is a charity close to my heart as this year marks 25 years since I was a cancer patient there myself."

One of Roisin's nurses, Adele, even cared for Lucy on Bluebell Ward all those years ago.

Lucy completed the swimathon in two hours 28 minutes and 46 seconds, only stopping for 30 seconds to eat a bar of chocolate!

You can still donate via justgiving.com/fundraising/lucysswim5000m.