A 12-YEAR-OLD joined a swimming challenge and covered the length of the English Channel to raise funds for the air ambulance in honour of her grandad.

Sophie Pascoe, from Weston, covered 21 miles [the English Channel's length at its narrowest point] over several days at the town’s Hutton Moor Leisure Centre raising over £3,000.

Her dad Ian said: “Sophie has always loved swimming; she has completed the challenge at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston-super-Mare.

“She swam one mile before for a cancer charity, but this was the most she had ever done.

“My father, Sophies grandad, died suddenly in July this year in Clevedon on the sea front.

“There were two ambulances, and they called the air ambulance which also attended.

“Unfortunately, they were unable to save him.

“Following this, Sophie wanted to do something to help give back to the air ambulance which is funded purely on donations.

“She saw that each trip is on average £2,200, so she set this as her goal.

“She reached her target. Sophie decided to not alter her target but to set a new challenge, if she reached 125 per cent of her target, she said she would tow the rescue mannequin for 20 lengths during her last swim.

“Over the past few months, Sophie has been chipping away at the miles and on October 26 Sophie has completed the challenge, the last few lengths she was joined by her brother and her cousins to finish this with them.

“Hutton Moor have been fantastic is supporting her, with Andy the swim manager and Lilly her rookie lifeguard teacher being there at the end of her swim, Sophies class of rookie lifeguards were also there as she finished which was very special for her.

“So far, she has raised £3,020, and her fundraising page is still open."