Windermere woman to swim 13 lakes for charity (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Windermere woman to swim 13 lakes for charity

4:17pm Monday 23rd August 2010 in

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A WINDERMERE woman is making a splash by swimming 13 lakes in 13 days to raise funds for The Great North Air Ambulance and The Princess Royal Trust St Helen’s Carers' Centre.

Rebecca Dearden, 35, and Karen Stuart, 41, from Keswick, will take on all 13 lakes in the Lake District - swimming a mile in each one - and so far they have completed Crummock Water, Buttermere, Ullswater, Rydal Water, Bassenthwaite, Windermere, Esthwaite Water, Wastwater, Ennerdale, Coniston, Derwentwater and Grasmere.

The challenge was arranged in memory of Rebecca’s sister in law, Mandy Dearden and they are hoping to raise £500.

“It’s been going really well,” said Rebecca, who teaches diving and used to swim competitively.

“It has been incredible fun. We have seen some amazing views from the middle of the lakes that you would never normally see. It has been really beautiful.

“Wastwater was the most challenging because the water was really rough and I had to swim underwater a lot of the way back. But it was also my favourite because it was so beautiful.

“We had perfect conditions on Buttermere and perfectly calm water. It was like a mirror - just beautiful.”

On September 4 and 5 the duo will take to Windermere for the Great North Swim to complete their final two miles.

“Most of my family will be doing the Great North Swim with me so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Rebecca.

To follow the girls’ challenge visit www.justgiving.com/RebeccaGNAA.