A YOUNGSTER raising vital cash for a disability charity swam the distance between England and France in a Witney leisure centre.

Ten-year-old Isobel Dains, of Hailey Road, Witney, was keen to take on a challenge to raise money for charity – and thought her swimming abilities made the pool an ideal location.

On Wednesday, November 29, after about 10 weeks, Isobel completed the 22-mile Aspire Channel Swim challenge at Windrush Leisure Centre after raising a whopping £460 to help people with spinal cord injuries.

Isobel said she thought it was ‘brilliant’ to have raised so much money, and was particularly pleased with her final 80 lengths on Wednesday, despite feeling under the weather.

Isobel’s mum Rosie, 46, said: “We had talked about doing something for charity where she could actively participate, and she loves swimming, so she thought she could help people by doing something she enjoyed.

“I’m so proud of her because she’s been going two or three times a week and doing a least a mile each time.

"There have been nights it’s been cold – and she has asthma – but she’s been very determined.

“And it’s all something that she wanted to do – it wasn’t a suggestion from anyone else.”

The youngster, who goes to Witney Community Primary School, was not only active in swimming, but in fundraising too.

About £150 of the funds were raised through raffle tickets she sold herself.

The important thing, for both Isobel and her mum, is the great deal of good the money will do with Aspire.

Mrs Dains, who is a self-employed dog walker with her business named REDY2GO, continued: “The most important this is when you look at what that provides. I read that a third of all there fundraising comes from the Channel challenge so it is important."

The Aspire Channel Swim asks participants to swim the distance of the English Channel in their local pool and raise money for people paralysed by spinal cord injury.

There is a time limit of 22 weeks.

Aspire is a national charity that provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by spinal cord injury helping them move from injury to independence.

Every eight hours someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury and there is currently no cure.

To help Isobel raise even more money for Aspire go to her JustGiving page at bit.ly/2jyFruk