A TEENAGER from Hampshire is embarking on a series of personal challenges to remember her adventurous grandad who died from a brain tumour.
Fifteen-year-old Ella Marsh from Lymington has set herself 16 challenges to complete ahead of her 16th birthday next month.
Nicknamed ‘Challenge 16’, the teen has so far swum the 2000 metre length of Lake Buttermere and climbed all 978 metres of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain.
READ MORE: Bucket list swim in Southampton Docks during the Boat Show
Further challenges include completing a 16km triathlon, delivering a 16 minute lecture at a local museum, playing 16 holes of golf and Ella will be doing a skydive on her 16th birthday.
The epic adventures are inspired by her grandad, Colin Morath, who died at the age of 76 in 2011 shortly before Ella’s fifth birthday.
Following in her grandad’s thrill-seeking footsteps, Ella is aiming to raise £1,600 for Brain Tumour Research to help find a cure for the disease.
The young fundraiser said: “I remember going on many hikes together and walks along the beach. My grandad also taught me how to ski and even started me climbing.
"I am grateful to have had him in my life even if it was just for a short period of time. I know that he would be extremely proud and tell me to ‘go for it’ and he’d most certainly want to join in with the activities, especially the mountaineering.”
Other activities include a 16km triathlon, rowing 1,600 metres in a double skull, 16km helming a rib, delivering a 16 minute lecture at St Barbe Museum, doing a 15,000ft skydive (extra 1,000 ft to be jumped on a trampoline), 16 holes of golf – Texas scramble style, hitting 16 golds in archery, 16 hits at clay pigeon shooting, 16 solo ascents rock climbing, painting 16 landscapes, 16 round of mixed martial arts (training and sparring), spending 16 minutes as a passenger in a rally car and raising £1,600 for Brain Tumour Research.
For a full list of Ella’s Challenge 16 events, and to donate to her fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Ella-Marsh3
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