A TEENAGE girl from Westcliff has raised more than £700 for the London hospital that saved her grandfather’s life.

Lillie Mitchell Hogan, 14, took on a 100-mile kayak challenge from Southend seafront to raise funds for St Bartholomew’s Hospital after life-saving surgery on her grandfather, James Mitchell, after he suffered a heart attack in January.

The money she has raised will go to Barts Heart Centre so they can continue saving the lives of people like her grandfather.

Lillie said: “I wanted to raise as much money as possible for the Heart Centre because every girl, no matter how old they are, needs their grandad in their life.”

Lillie was hit very hard by James’ heart attack, which almost killed him.

She said: “It was the scariest thing I had ever heard. From that moment on my life changed and I quickly realised how easy it could’ve been to lose him.”

Lillie woke up at 4am to combat the elements as part of her challenge.

Under pressure from 25 mile-per-hour winds, 4ft waves, thunder and strong tides, Lillie became the youngest person ever to cover the 100-mile distance in a kayak.

Lillie’s entire family turned out to support her huge physical challenge alongside her coach, Norman.

Her grandfather was also at the seafront to see her as she crossed the finish line.

James was beaming alongside Lillie’s grandmother to after witnessing her achievement, knowing that it is for a cause that could help to save more lives like Barts did for him.

He said: “I can’t thank the staff enough for fixing me and making it possible for me to see Lillie crossing the finish line.”

During this summer Lillie has also been training to become a lifeguard at the Southend Canoe Club while undertaking her Duke of Edinburgh Award and kicking off a three-year GCSE course.

Lillie is hopeful that more money can be raised so that she can in her way help more people who require treatment from Barts.

He mother, Natalie, said: “She is truly amazing and has worked so hard to complete this challenge.”

Heart UK found that 160,000 people die every year from heart or circulatory diseases.

Barts Heart Centre received £10million from the charity which has been used to conduct research and improve patient care for people who need their help like James did.

Simon Pitts, community manager for Barts Charity, said: “Lillie has been fantastic! We cannot thank her and her family enough for their support of the Barts Heart Centre. It is thanks to the generosity of people like Lillie that we can fund innovation at this world-class cardiac facility and help the centre provide the best care to patients like James.”