FROM Dubai to Dublin, Terri Calvesbert's heartrending story has spun around the world.And in December swimmers from across the globe are banding together in a sponsored event that could raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the little girl's trust fund.

FROM Dubai to Dublin, Terri Calvesbert's heartrending story has spun around the world.

And in December swimmers from across the globe are banding together in a sponsored event that could raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the little girl's trust fund.

On December 6 in at least 52 countries swimmers will be taking the plunge and swimming the 35km distance of the English channel in a swimming pool.

The swim was the brainchild of London man Robert Mather who was so moved by the programme about Terri's life, aired earlier this year, that he decided he had to do something.

Originally he had thought about roping off a lane of the swimming club he is a member of, to swim the length of the channel with a few friends, but the idea soon snowballed.

Within weeks he was sending off DVD copies of the programme across the world to show people Terri's plight - and swimmers have flocked to try and help.

With three small children himself, seeing Terri's programme tugged at his heart strings.

He said: "I was moved by the programme and managed to get three swims going internationally with three telephone calls, so I thought why not a vast number more?

"It'll show the power of swimmers acting collectively around the planet and rather nice people doing something for a little girl thousands of miles from where they live."

All the money raised will be coming straight into the Terri Calvesbert Appeal which currently stands at around £60,000.

The money will be used to help Terri throughout her life. It was set up by the Evening Star days after she suffered nearly 90 per cent burns in a fire at her home.

She was nearly two years old at the time, but since then she has battled her way through 16 skin operations and has plenty more to come.

Her story took the nation by storm when the Real Life: Being Terri programme was aired on Anglia TV in June.

More than £11,000 swamped the Evening Star offices in just one day after the programme and has continued to flood in ever since.

n.If you would like to be involved in the huge swim contact Robert Mather by email at rmather@btinternet.com – and do not forget to let us know by calling the Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324790 or email StarNews@eveningstar.co.uk.