THIS summer thousands of Aussies were diving in to be a Super Swim Hero and go the distance for sick kids, and solo swimmer 10-year-old Amy Hodson from Wonthaggi exceeded her personal goal – swimming 25km and raising $10,000 for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. 
After setting herself a personal goal to raise $1,500 and swim 20km in 28 days, Amy smashed her kilometres at the local Wonthaggi YMCA swimming four to five nights a week. 
Upon finishing her final 2km’s on Tuesday evening, training with South Gippsland Bass Swimming Club coach Sam O’Keefe, Amy said she is proud to have raised money for other sick kids. 
Amy’s parents Brad and Robyn Hodson said, “our hearts are full, and it is not only Amy who achieved this but our wonderful community.”
“Friends, family, businesses, and organisations all helped Amy achieve the magical figure of $10,000. Donations were received from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria,” said Robyn. 
“I love swimming and hope to one day be in the Olympics, when I heard about the challenge I thought, I want to do it because adults help kids all the time but it’s hard for kids to help kids.” 
Amy’s mother Robyn said Amy’s motivation for the challenge came from her time in and out of hospital as a young child. 
Amy has no vision in her right eye, she was born with a rare cataract on the right side and underwent surgery at only eight weeks old. 
Since then, she spent many years at the Royal Children’s Hospital for appointments and will continue to undergo further surgeries due to her cataract. 
Amy has been swimming with the South Gippsland Bass Swimming Club (SGB) for 12 months and trains three times a week at the YMCA in Wonthaggi. 
“During the challenge I was spending an extra two days a week in the pool, and it was a lot of fun, I was also swimming with friends who helped support me,” said Amy. 
Amy tracked every swim at training and every extra swim until February 28 where she achieved her distance of 25kms. 
“This challenge highlighted Amy’s natural ability to care for others,” said Robyn. 
“We are so proud of Amy, and she should be really proud of herself,” said coach Sam. 
Starlight CEO Louise Baxter said: “Being seriously ill shouldn’t mean missing out on the joy of childhood.”
Through Amy’s own health challenges, she found a passion for swimming and with the support of her local community she proudly made a difference for sick kids and their families.