A SCHOOLBOY has raised more than £200 for charity with a sponsored swim - while suffering from a broken thumb.

Dominic Lazarus, 10, of Wragby Road, Leytonstone, swam 5km on April 18, wearing a plaster cast, to raise the cash for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

He completed the swim at Leyton Leisure Lagoon’s annual Swimathon in about two and a half hours in spite of the injury, which happened after a fall while he was playing at school.

“My cast slowed me down a little bit but not much,” said Dominic, who is in Year 6 at Mayville Primary School, Leytonstone.

“I’m really good at swimming - I’ve been doing it for about nine years.”

Dominic lost his grandfather and a cousin to cancer and decided to try to raise money for the charity after he saw a poster for the swimathon at the pool.

His injury meant he was unable to swim for three weeks while he waited for a protective covering for his cast but he was determined not to let down the people who sponsored him.

“There were about six teachers from school who sponsored me and some people from my dad’s work and some from my mum’s work,” Dominic said.

“I’m quite proud of myself.”

He swims three times a week for Leyton Swimming Club and as a “rookie” lifeguard. He was also the only child to do a solo 5km swim.“Dominic saw the poster at the swimming pool and thought he could do something he really enjoys and raise money for charity,” pleased dad Simon Lazarus, 43, said.

He added: “I cannot say how proud I am of him. It was going to be an incredible feat without a broken thumb but with a broken thumb I thought he would have to stop before the end, but Dominic was determined to finish.”

Dominic is now planning to repeat the achievement at next year’s swimathon.