Elsie Martin, 9, swimming Channel distance for Springhill Hospice in memory of grandma

Elsie Martin is swimming 21 miles for Springhill Hospice

Elsie Martin, nine, is swimming the equivalent distance of the English Channel – 21 miles – to raise money for Springhill Hospice.

Elsie, of Rochdale, decided she wanted to swim the equivalent distance, which works out to 1,344 lengths, over the course of three months in memory of her grandma Amanda, who sadly passed away in October 2021 at the hospice.

The determined nine-year-old has been carrying out the swim at 6.30am before school, or after school in the swim lanes.

So far, she has covered about 16 miles and raised over £500.

Her mum, Gemma, said: “Elsie is doing this as well as her regular schoolwork, dancing four times a week and football twice a week. She is swimming between half a mile and a mile at a time.

“We are very proud of how determined she is.”

Donations in support of Elsie’s efforts can be made via Just Giving.