HAMPSHIRE schoolgirl, Libby Pardoe, 15, has been diving into the pool at Lymington Health and Leisure Centre to swim one mile every day to raise money for our troops in Afghanistan.

And now, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment, nicknamed The Tigers, have presented Libby with an award to show their appreciation.

Head of the regiment, Brigadier Richard Dennis, presented Priestlands School pupil Libby with a commemorative plaque. He was with three soldiers who have been injured while serving on the front line, since The Tigers began their tour in October last year.

Libby has clocked up 215 miles – or around 14,000 lengths – to support a Daily Echo-backed campaign to raise £60,000 for injured troops.

And the finishing line to her mammoth challenge is now in sight, with the Hampshire-based regiment set to finish their six-month stint in the war torn country later this month.

Libby’s mum, Deborah, who worked alongside The Tigers during their training in Germany last year, said: “I’m very proud of what Libby has done. The amount of time she’s given up and the endurance she has shown is brilliant.

“There are times when she’s been sat in the car in tears because she hasn’t felt like swimming, but she knows that the boys out in Afghanistan haven’t given up and that has spurred her on.

“With all the effort she has put in, it would be great if people could support her more and support our injured troops in the process,” she added.

“Libby really wanted to raise £10,000 for the boys, but we need more if we are going to reach that. Life is about what you give not what you get sometimes, and these boys give an awful lot.”

Libby is pictured with, from left, Brigadier Richard Dennis OBE, Pte Perry Simmons, Cpl Jay Baldwin and LCpl Tim Jones.