A SAUCHIE swimmer is training hard ahead of the Special Olympics GB 2017 National Summer Games in Sheffield.

Claire Robertson (19) started swimming when she was six and joined The PEAK, Stirling-based team Enable Arion Swimming Club, five years ago.

The club, which dates back to 1978, provides swimming coaching for people with learning difficulties.

And its members, including Claire, have been so successful they brought back to the Forth Valley 13 golds, 12 silvers and three bronzes from the 2013 Special Olympics in Bath.

Proud mother Teresa told the Advertiser that Claire has met a lot of great new friends at the club, which meant she has built confidence and also challenged herself in swimming.

She said: “Claire does her best and likes coming away with medals. She also enjoys being part of a team, which is great to see.

“She is also on the youth committee through Forth Valley Disability Sport, which is giving her a lot of challenges – the main one is fundraising, of which they have a lot to do.

“Being a parent, when you see your child meet their achievements is the proudest moment you can experience as a whole.

“Our family is so proud of Claire and when she attends the next Special Olympics in Sheffield in 2017 there will be a few family members attending, myself included.”

Claire herself won a gold and two silvers and she hopes to make the event in two years time with her teammates.

However, as Teresa recognised, they need to raise a lot of money before they can travel down to South Yorkshire.

Recently, the team again won a great number of medals at a swimming gala in Kilmarnock.

Club chairman and founder Andrew McRorie explained to the Advertiser that he started the group with his late wife in St Ninian’s because his son had learning difficulties.

The club grew and moved from St Modan’s High School to the Provost Pool in Stirling, then to Stirling High School, before moving to The PEAK.

Each year the club attends six galas with consistent successes and the full team for the Special Olympics in Sheffield for the central region comes out of the local team.

But the club does not get funding support from any organisation and it needs to raise money for travel and equipment costs.

This Friday, the club is holding a disco evening at Bannockburn Miners Welfare from 6.30pm till late. There will be raffles, a tombola, a light buffet and lots of fun for just £4.