A CHELMSFORD schoolgirl has become one of the youngest people ever to take part in a swim of the English Channel.
Charley Spriggs, of New Hall School, was one of six swimmers in a team called Charley and the Old Speedos, who completed the 21-mile feat in 12 hours and 15 minutes.
The 12-year-old comes from a family of keen swimmers and was inspired after her father, Jon Spriggs, swam the Channel solo in 2010.
"I was nine at the time and I remember saying then 'I want to do that'," she said.
So far the team have raised over £13,000 for Papworth Hospital Charity, the UK's largest specialist heart and lung hospital, but they hope this number will reach £15,000.
The team set off from Shakespeare Beach in Dover, Kent, and swam 21 miles in relay to Wissant Beach in Wissant, near Calais, France.
Charley said: "I remember when we first set up the website I didn't know how much we would raise, so I just said 'put down £1,000 or something', but now we've raised so much more."
Charley chose to donate to Papworth Hospital Charity after her grandfather, Graham White, 75, was diagnosed with lung cancer last April.
Mr White, who is also a swimmer and has never smoked in his life, was referred to Papworth after they expressed an interest in his unusual case.
The hospital performed a lifesaving operation to remove Mr White's lung.
He is now on his way to recovery.
Charley said: "I'm glad I did it but I don't think I'd do it again, mostly because of the training."
She was even stung by a jellyfish during her preparation to take part in the challenge.
Charley also had to take part in a two-hour continuous swim to qualify to swim the Channel.
Each member of the swim team took it in turns to swim the stretch in chilly waters, which range from 15 to 18C.
Charley's mum, Sascha Spriggs, 43, went to France to meet the team when they arrived at the finish.
She said: "She did amazing. It was all Charley's idea.
"The doctors removed Graham's lung just before Christmas and he's doing really well, so she basically wanted to say thank you to the hospital for saving his life.
"The day they swam everything came to a halt at the charity because you could watch it live on a tracker. They are all tickled pink with her.
"Afterwards the swimmers were absolutely shattered. It was much harder than they all thought it was going to be.
"Charley managed to get the worst leg of the swim and at points the waves were going right over her head."
Nick Hunt, another member of the group, swam with a whole group of jellyfish and they stung him from head to toe."
The Guinness world record for the youngest person to swim the Channel solo is held by Thomas Gregory, 11 years and 336-days-old, in 1988.
However, it is now the law that solo swimmers must be over 16-years-old.
To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Charley-and-the-Old-Speedos-Channel-Swim.
