Year 8 student, Mia Smith, an accomplished swimmer, is set to become one of the faces of a national health product manufacturer.
Weleda UK has launched a national search for athletes, including swimmers, to promote its range of arnica products for sportspeople through a specialist film.
Weleda has been making 100 per cent certified natural products since 1921 and with the HQ in Derbyshire, sports filming took place outdoors within the beautiful Peak District.
Mia was selected after Weleda UK’s Managing Director, Jayn Sterland, heard how she had finished in bronze position for 100m breaststroke in the North West Regional Swimming Championships in Manchester in June.
Mia, along with her friend and fellow student and swimmer Beth Hartwell, dedicated her swim to friend Amy Barlow who was injured in the Manchester Arena attack, which had happened days before the competition.
Emblazoned across the backs of both swimmers was, ‘Get Well Soon Amy x x’.
Jayn had also heard about Amy and was quick to send a Weleda hamper of healing products to her and the other children affected in the attack.
Mia said: “When I was selected for the filming, I got to try open water river swimming for the first time in the River Derwent in Derbyshire.
“Two of us got into the water and they filmed it both from the riverbank and with a drone above and it was freezing cold. The current was really strong.”
Mia swims five to six times a week with Pioneer 79 at Accrington Academy including attending the pool from 5am-7am every Tuesday or Thursday.
Her success in the regional competition means she is working over the next two years towards making it to a national competition, but only the top 50 swimmers will be selected.
Mia said: “Now I have tried open water swimming, I would like to do more and will be speaking to my coach about swimming in Salford Quays, just for fun.”
Mia’s mum Gill said: “The Weleda arnica film is being launched in the spring across the UK and Europe and it will be on YouTube.
“It was a fantastic experience for her, working with a crew and learning about marketing. There was lots of hanging around all day and doing the shots over and over.
“We were shocked when Jayn recently named Mia as one of the most inspirational people that she met this year, and we are very grateful to her for giving Mia the chance to take part.”