Southampton mum named Parent of Year

6:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Rebecca Pearson, Reporter

Vicki Lewis with her children Ellena and Nathan Vicki Lewis with her children Ellena and Nathan

A DEDICATED mum who goes the extra mile to take her children to their swimming lessons has been recognised for her efforts.

Vicki Lewis, 31, from Regents Park, Southampton, was nominated by the Amateur Swimming Association to receive the Parent of the Year award for being one of the top swimming mums in the country.

Despite living with cerebral palsy since birth, which means she is in almost constant pain and has difficulties walking without a stick, she has brought her two children, Ellena, 6, and Nathan, 4, to their swimming lessons at Shirley pool since they were just six months old.

Vicki, an occupational therapist, and her family travelled to Sheffield at the weekend for the awards ceremony at the Swimtastic Gala Dinner at Ponds Forge Complex, where the family had the chance to swim with some of this year’s Olympic stars.

Comments(12)

aldermoorboy says...
6:59am Mon 22 Oct 12

Great story, well done

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lauradav1 says...
7:31am Mon 22 Oct 12

Parent of the year for taking her kids swimming what a joke

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Ted Rogers says...
8:42am Mon 22 Oct 12

lauradav1 wrote:
Parent of the year for taking her kids swimming what a joke
Couldn't agree more. All these types of awards irritate me. 'parent of the year' 'dog of the year' 'baby of the year' etc etc.

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-stiv- says...
10:17am Mon 22 Oct 12

lauradav1 wrote:
Parent of the year for taking her kids swimming what a joke
She does have cerebral palsy. But you know, well done for putting her in her place.

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Inform Al says...
10:19am Mon 22 Oct 12

Ted Rogers wrote:
lauradav1 wrote:
Parent of the year for taking her kids swimming what a joke
Couldn't agree more. All these types of awards irritate me. 'parent of the year' 'dog of the year' 'baby of the year' etc etc.
Perhaps you idiots missed the bit about cerebral palsy since birth. If she was claiming benefits or couldn't carry a push chair upstairs I suspect you would be one of the cretins saying she shouldn't have kids.

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Glen.P says...
10:28am Mon 22 Oct 12

I knew Vicki many years ago when she was a young student a Southampton uni and I was a young lad doing building work there. She was the only person ever to make me a cup of tea while I worked there. She is one of the the most kind and caring people I have met. Some have chosen to criticize this award, but for the few years a knew Vicki she never moan or complain once about her life and just made the most of every moment. Many could learn from her. Congratulations on the award I'm sure you more than deserve it.

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Heathrowboy says...
10:32am Mon 22 Oct 12

how close is shirley pool to their home in regents park?

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Lone Ranger. says...
10:43am Mon 22 Oct 12

Ted Rogers wrote:
lauradav1 wrote:
Parent of the year for taking her kids swimming what a joke
Couldn't agree more. All these types of awards irritate me. 'parent of the year' 'dog of the year' 'baby of the year' etc etc.
I was fortunate enough to see this lady on television this morning and i think that she is inspirational.
.
Not only living and coping with cerebral palsy, she taught her kids to swim after taking lessons herself. where she just uses her arms as her legs dont function.
.
On top of this she is in constant pain.
.
Perhaps the couple of pathetic posters may well retarct their pathetic posts ........ as they apear to be the "jokes" in this article

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Ted Rogers says...
11:16am Mon 22 Oct 12

Lone Ranger. wrote:
Ted Rogers wrote:
lauradav1 wrote:
Parent of the year for taking her kids swimming what a joke
Couldn't agree more. All these types of awards irritate me. 'parent of the year' 'dog of the year' 'baby of the year' etc etc.
I was fortunate enough to see this lady on television this morning and i think that she is inspirational.
.
Not only living and coping with cerebral palsy, she taught her kids to swim after taking lessons herself. where she just uses her arms as her legs dont function.
.
On top of this she is in constant pain.
.
Perhaps the couple of pathetic posters may well retarct their pathetic posts ........ as they apear to be the "jokes" in this article
I wasn't knocking the person I'm knocking the type of award.
There are many many parents struggling through tough times with enormous challenges, that raise their children correctly - well done to all of them.

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southy says...
12:55pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Heathrowboy wrote:
how close is shirley pool to their home in regents park?
Its about a mile away.

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George4th says...
6:33pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Congratulations on your award! Well done!
A credit to yourself and a great role model for your children.

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Gainer T Gopher says...
6:53pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Parent of the year and a good looking one at that.....

Maybe she will inspire some of the fat lazy people to get off their sofas and get take the kids out for sunlight and exercise.....

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