Sarah requires transfusions of plasma every month with the infusions taking seven hours and an overnight stay in hospital.

The club has gained an appreciation of the importance of donating blood and plasma through Sarah and as a result has won the Run, Catch and Swim for Plasma challenge held between sporting clubs over the past two years.

This has meant that the club has donated the most plasma and blood during December, January and February.

Sarah was asked to be junior ambassador of the Dubbo Blood Donor Centre earlier this year which she has regarded as a huge honour. In this role she wanted to increase the awareness of the importance of donating blood and plasma and raise money for the Blood Donor Centre.

Together with her parents Dennis and Jenny Valantine who are members of the Swimcity coaching staff she has initiated a charity swim clinic. The clinic is on October 6 at the Dubbo Aquatic and Leisure Centre and will be conducted by Dennis Valantine, Jenny Valantine, Kim Edwards, Ru Hunt, Karin Morgan and Cath Raidaveta.

The day involves a 9am start and concludes at 4pm. 

The coaches would appreciate parents staying just for the first session to hear a talk about nutrition, carnival preparation and etiquette. 

The swimmers will then be divided into four groups based on ability and will participate in a variety of sessions on drills, starts, turns and finishes, dry land exercises, underwater camera footage of technique and will end the day with fun activities including the slide. 

The cost of the clinic is $30 which will include lunch, morning and afternoon tea. 

Swimmers will need to pay their own entry into the pool. 

All proceeds from the day will be donated to the Dubbo Blood Donor Centre to assist in advertising to help raise awareness of donating blood and plasma. 

To participate in the clinic you must be a member of Dubbo City Swimtech Swimming Club and or a member of Swim City coaching. 

To register for the day could you please email Kim Edwards at swimcitycoaching@gmail.com to secure a place and either send a cheque to Swim City Coaching, PO Box 742, Dubbo or transfer funds to BSB:112-879 Acc: 491340172. 

The organisers of the day would appreciate final numbers by Wednesday, October 3 to assist with catering and organisations of groups.

If you would like any further details on the day or joining Swim City Coaching for the season you can contact Dennis Valantine on 0418244350. 

If you would like details on joining Dubbo City Swimtech Swimming Club visit the club’s website dubbocityswimtech.com.au.