PARENT Ruth Poole completed a gruelling 350-mile kayak in Peru raising more than £12,000 to help her disabled daughter Cery's financially troubled special school.

Mrs Poole, 49, endured hundreds of mosquito bites and had to wash herself surrounded by piranha fish and sting rays in the waters of the River Maranon during the mammoth three-week challenge to the Amazon.

But it was all worth it when she told Cerys, 15, and fellow pupils at St Rose's School about her adventures at an assembly on Tuesday, November 12, and presented the school with the £12,500 she raised from sponsors.

"It was an incredible adventure," said Mrs Poole, whose daughter Megan, 23, and son David, 21, were with her on the trip, fund raising for different charities.

Meanwhile Mrs Poole’s husband Alistair stayed at their home in Downend, near Frenchay, to look after Cerys, and other brothers Kieran, 18 and Gareth, 17.

"Dolphins would follow us and jump over our paddles and the sunsets and sunrises were beautiful," she said.

"But it was the toughest thing I've ever done.

"We were in the middle of nowhere, there were no creature comforts and it was exhausting and incredibly hot.

"When it rained it was so heavy.

"It was an extreme physical endeavour but for me it ended when we reached the Amazon.

"For the children at St Rose's their challenges and troubles never stop."

Cerys, who has cerebal palsy, has been at St Rose’s for four years.

The special educational needs school, which last year celebrated its centenary, could face closure because it is no longer financially viable due to a substantial fall in the number of pupils.

Governors and trustees are discussing an urgent future action plan.

"St Rose's is such an amazing place and it would be a tragedy if it was unable to continue," said Mrs Poole.

"Before Cerys had no social life. Now she has friends

"The staff are absolutely phenomenal.

"From our point of view the alternative would be a main stream school but that would not be appropriate for Cerys."

Mrs Poole now plans to run the London Marathon for St Rose’s.

To donate go to www.justgiving.com/Ruth-Poole-kayak-amazon-challenge