Laura Corfield will swim a distance equivalent to the English Channel to help raise £500,000-plus for one of the UK's leading spinal cord injury charities Aspire.

The Aspire Channel Swim is a 22-mile challenge people can take on in their local swimming pool over a period of 12 weeks. Laura will be swimming hers at Victoria Swimming Pool, Portsmouth.

The 19-year-old said: 'I recently read that swimming is one of the best ways to keep fit so, seeing the Aspire Channel Swim challenge, I decided to take part to get fitter. I also want to raise funds for the charity as it does not receive any statutory funding.'

She will be joined by thousands of people across the country who will take to their local pools between September 15 and December to help Aspire reach its target.

Rosie Cotton, spokeswoman for Aspire, said: 'Every year the money raised from the Aspire Channel Swim goes towards helping people with spinal cord injuries.

'Aspire makes a difference by providing a number of practically-based projects designed to ensure that the spinally injured have many of their immediate and future needs met, so that they can start and continue to live their lives as independently as possible.'

Spinal cord injury has a devastating effect on the 1,200 people who become paralysed each year. They lose muscle and sensory control and the vast majority become full-time wheelchair users for the rest of their lives.

To take part in the Aspire Channel Swim please contact Rosie Cotton on 08000 370 880 or go to www.aspirechannelswim.co.uk