​FRANCES WEIGHTMAN
​

My daughter began with Mini Mermaids when she had just turned 6. Always fairly shy with other children, and tall for her age, Sarah was already seeming to define herself (as I had) as non-sporty, and would avoid taking part in physical activity if she could. But she loved Mini Mermaids from day one. Her mentors were superb, and made her feel special and valued. We read the story about Siren/Mini Mermaid as a bedtime story for several days on the trot and she told me all about what they stood for. In terms of physical fitness, in her first weeks she could barely run at all without getting a stitch but was reassured by the fact that the 5km challenge could be completed at any pace.

Since that first Mini Mermaid 5km challenge,  Sarah tries to do either parkrun or junior parkrun every weekend (and gets us involved as well!). She recently did the Brighouse 5K and got under 30 mins for the first time ever (29:24 in fact). When I think that it’s almost 2 years to the day that she did her first challenge with you guys, and see how much she has been transformed in confidence and resilience, I am overwhelmed. She has worked really hard, but it simply would not have happened without you.

​Frances Weightman, Mini Mermaid parent, Leeds