BETHESDA nine-year-old Indi-Anna Kiely is taking part in an epic challenge to help special babies.

The Ysgol Bodfeurig pupil is spending her tenth birthday, on Sunday, February 17, on a triathlon to raise funds for the Ysbyty Gwynedd special baby unit.

India-Anna was herself a special baby, born at the Bangor unit six weeks early. She weighed only 2lbs 9oz.

​Video and pictures by Kerry Roberts

Cheered on by her family, including brothers Patrick, eight, and Jack four, Indi-Anna is going to run and walk along a route between Zip World to Tregarth, then ride her bicycle from Tregarth to Bangor Quay, then swim laps at Bangor swimming pool.

To prepare for her challenge Indi-Anna has been training every day for the past four weeks, and has also given up sweets and biscuits.

India-Anna said: “For my tenth birthday I decided I don’t want a party or any presents instead I am going to do a big challenge and hope to raise lots of money for the special care baby unit in Ysbyty Gwynedd.

“When I was born I wasn’t ill just very, very tiny.

“This is just my way of saying thank you to the nurses and to help the new babies now in the SCBU.”

Her mum Susan, said: “I asked Indi-Anna what she wanted to do for her birthday and she had tears in her eyes.

“She said Mum, I just want to do something for those little babies in the unit.

"She has given up her sweets as part of her challenge, too, and she has found that very hard.

“It is so nice she is doing this, and her little brothers are supporting her. I am overwhelmed and so happy that my children are so aware of the value of giving, and I am so proud of Indi-Anna, she is an amazing girl, and so caring.

"It would be lovely if people would support her efforts and perhaps even cheer her along the route.”

Anyone interested in supporting Indi-Anna a Just Giving page, “Indi-Anna’s Triathlon” should visit 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephanie-jones65

The fund stands at £135.