A caring schoolgirl used a popular seaside fundraiser to support the triplets of tragic Whitehaven mum Rachel Park.

Ten-year-old Carenza Dmytrowski was so deeply moved by the plight of the 39-year-old's family following her death last week that she decided she had to do something to help.

The tragedy came just a week after Rachel and her husband Steven brought home their nine-month old triplets – Mollie, Poppie and Evelyn - from hospital.

Determined to do what she could, Carenza joined the annual St Bees New Year Fundraising Dip.

She joined more than 70 people who plunged into the chilly sea yesterday to raise money for a good cause.

She has so far achieved a total of almost £600.

The second major cause to benefit from the event was the RNLI – a charity dear to the heart of many people along the Cumbrian coast.

The annual event was started by 30-year-old Emma Nichol, who used to enjoy the same tradition (though on Christmas Day) when she was growing up in Wicklow in Ireland.

She and her husband Adam, 29, organised the event through their running Club, St Bees Triers, along with David Barker.

Adam said: “Emma was often back in Ireland for Christmas and the event there at the village of Greystones, on the coast, involves about 2,000 people. She suggested it would be nice to do something similar here on New Year's Day.

“We've been doing it for six years now, and every year it gets bigger.

“We live in St Bees, and we just wanted to give something back to the RNLI, which often supports our club's charity events. As well as those taking part, a lot of people turned up to watch this year.

“There were people of all ages taking part, including Carenza and other children. It was brilliant.”