Girl, 13, paddleboards to highschool daily and even will get stung by jellyfish

A brave 13-year-old girl has been making waves by paddling to school every single day, even bracing herself against jellyfish stings on her special journey.

Elsie Berriman takes to the water with her paddleboard, cruising from Hayle across to Carbis Bay in Cornwall, battling the elements as she goes.

She rises before the sun to dive in at 6:30 am, conquering the sea for roughly one hour until she hits Carbis Bay around 7:45 am.

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This gutsy teen uses the outdoor showers by the beach before she switches gear, and trots off to class.

Not just a ride on the waves, Elsie’s doing it all for an incredible cause to rake in funds for her beloved Hayle Surf Life Saving Club.

Committed to paddling a mind-blowing 20 miles across 10 days, Elsie is giving back to the club that’s been her second home since childhood, offering training and safety around the perilous coastline.

Smashing her fundraising goals, Elsie’s racked up a staggering £2,045 but isn’t ready to hang up her paddle just yet, even with jellyfish nipping at her daily.

Life-long Hayle resident Elsie shared her love for the surf life-saving club, saying, “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.”

Her dad, Andrew Berriman, 43, couldn’t be prouder of his paddleboarding prodigy and has been amazed at the generosity they’ve received. 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 takes to the water each morning accompanied by at least two or three club members who ensure her safety.

Andrew, who was originally supposed to undertake the challenge with Elsie but couldn’t due to an achilles injury, says the surf club has played a significant role in both their lives.

Having been a member since his teenage years, Andrew wanted his daughter to experience the same sense of community he did.

He elaborated: “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 spends all day Sunday 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 reveals that the idea for the fundraiser came about after the club were fundraising earlier in the year to buy a double ski, which is an ‘expensive piece of kit’.

The young lass got hooked on the idea of paddling to school, and after a natter with her Dad, they turned that spark into reality.

But it’s not all been smooth sailing for the kid – this week’s seen some proper choppy seas and mauve stinger jellyfish causing havoc.

Andrew shared: “Elsie has been stung everyday, and other members of the club have been stung loads too.”

He also told of a scary encounter: “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 aims to finish her paddle challenge next Friday, weather permitting, safe conditions in tow.

Should things get too risky, she’s prepared to crack on longer to smash the entire 10 days. “.

You can support and donate to her fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/elsie-berriman.