A DETERMINED young girl who is 10 years old today is swimming the equivalent of the English Channel over a three-month period at Dursley’s Pulse Centre pool.

Eryn Wagstaff, a Slimbridge Primary School pupil, decided to take on an epic 22-mile swimming challenge and has so far raised more than £500 for the charity Aspire, which raises vital funds to help rehabilitate and support people who have suffered spinal cord injury.

She began the challenge in September and is due to finish on December 5. When the Gazette spoke to the family this week, Eryn had already clocked up 12.2 miles.

Her marathon effort has to be fitted in around schoolwork. She has impressed her instructors at Dursley’s 25-metre pool, often pushing herself to double her daily commitment. In recognition of her efforts she is allowed to use the pool free of charge.

Eryn described her routine: “My favourite stroke is breast stroke so I go one way using breast stroke then front crawl on the way back.”

Proud mum Kym said: “In terms of mileage she is already half way, so she could finish with two weeks to spare.”

Her mum is in awe of what Eyrn is attempting. “I think I’d just want to play at that age. I could never have done it.”

Kym added: “I don’t like water much but I go in with her sometimes. I can’t keep pace – she’s just off.

“But she’s focused. She doesn’t want to let people down. I take my hat off to her.”

With an initial target of 1,416 lengths, as the Gazette went to press she has less than 662 left to complete.

To revive any flagging spirits or weariness mum reminds Eryn that she has less than 10 miles to go, adding: “I tell her she’s closer now to France than turning back to Dover.”

Eryn admitted that she was feeling “quite tired but a good tired”. She is confident that she will finish but does concede that she will be “glad when it’s over”.

Her Slimbridge primary headteacher, Alison Cooke, has been very supportive and when the marathon swim is over Eryn has been invited to tell her inspiring story during assembly.

To sponsor Eryn visit her Just Giving page at: justgiving.com/fundraising/eryn-wagstaff-2016-channel-swim-9262.

To find out more about the Aspire Channel Swim 2016 entitled, 22 Miles. 12 Weeks. Your Pool. Your Challenge, visit aspirechannelswim.co.uk.

Every eight hours someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury and there is currently no cure. Swimming the distance of the English Channel with Aspire helps to raise money for people affected.