Girl, 13, powers through jellyfish stings to paddle to school every day

A 13-year-old girl is paddling to school every day, despite regularly being bitten by jelly fish.

Elsie Berriman paddles on a board 20 miles across the sea from Hayle to Carbis Bay in St Ives, Cornwall.

The pupil is in the water by 6.30am and usually arrives at the bay at around 7.45am.

Here she uses outdoor showers on the beach, before getting changed into her uniform and heading to school.

The unusual commute, which Elsie is doing over ten days, is part of an epic fundraising mission to support her Hayle Surf Live Saving Club.

The club trains and educates people of all ages to be safe in and around the coastline and Eloise has been a member since she was a young girl.

She has already raised £2,369, smashing her £1,200 target, and despite getting stung by mauve stinger jelly fish every day, has no plans to stop until her challenge is complete.

The teenager, who has grown up in Hayle, said: ‘Hayle Surf Livesaving Club has given me something to be passionate about, and along the way, I’ve been fortunate to make some great friendships.

‘It’s a fantastic community to be part of, and I want to give back by taking on this challenge.’

Andrew Berriman, 43, Elsie’s Dad, expressed his pride for his daughter – as well as his gratitude for people’s support.

He said: ‘It has really surprised us how generous people have been.

‘We didn’t aim to raise as much money – it was just meant to be a small fundraiser, but it seems to have really captured peoples imaginations.

‘I think a big reason is because she is 13 and is doing this every day for two weeks!

‘The conditions have been so bad as well, but she’s not fazed.

‘She’s always loved the water and has grown up around the sea and particularly that bit of water – she knows it well and is a confident swimmer.’

Elsie goes out in the mornings with at least two to three members of the club who provide a safety cover for her.

Andrew, who was initially meant to do the challenge with Elsie but was unable to due to an achilles injury, says the surf club has been a huge part of both of their lives.

Having been a member since a teenager, Andrew wanted his daughter to grow up with the same surf club community he had.

He explained: ‘It’s why we got her into it – she has loved it and it has been her absolute favourite thing to do.

‘The club have so many dedicated people and all her closest friends are there too.

‘She is there all day on Sunday for training, Tuesday nights, Wednesday nights, and they often have something on a Friday too.

‘She feels this surf club is a community for her – and this challenge proves it really is.’

Elsie came up with the paddling to school idea after the club started fundraising to buy a double ski, which, she explained, is an ‘expensive piece of kit’.

Though the challenge has not been without difficulty – including rough conditions, unusually chilly temperatures and of course the jelly fish.

Andrew said: ‘Elsie has been stung everyday, and other members of the club have been stung loads too.

‘As she was paddling one morning, she brought her hang up and there was one on her hand – but even that isn’t bothering her!’

Elsie finishes her challenge next Friday, as long as conditions remain safe to do so.

If conditions become too dangerous, she’ll extend the challenge for as long as it takes to complete the 10 days.

You can support the fundraiser here.

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