A BACKBARROW woman is braving fierce tides and challenging temperatures to swim the English Channel for charity.

Jacqui Young will be completing the 22 miles swim as part of a five person relay. Each member will swim for one hour before passing the baton on.

Mrs Young has never met the other swimmers but said she was looking forward to the trip because she enjoys the thrill of taking on new challenges.

The group have been allocated a time window between August 17 to 27, when they will swim which will depend on the weather, wind and tide.

Once they have been given the green light, each person will have 12 hours to get to Dover.

“We could start any time of the day and night so the team will be doing some training at night as well as during the day,” said Mrs Young.

Throughout the winter she has been training by totting up the miles in Ulverston's in-door pool. But as the event is getting closer, Mrs Young has now decided to practice in open water.

She said: “For the last two weeks I have started swimming in Windermere where the water temperature is around 10 ºC. I have been swimming in a wet suit, but for the event in August we will be just in swimming costumes.”

Tempatures in the English Channel should be around 17ºC, depending on how much sun England gets in the coming months.

The freelance outdoor pursuit instructor and expedition leader said that she loves the outdoors and loves the freedom of swimming in the Lakes.

She said: “It will be an even bigger challenge to swim in the English Channel but I thrive on new challenges. I completed the London Marathon last year.

“I am raising money for Diabetes UK from the Channel swim because it is a condition my father has had for five years.

“I think we all know someone who has diabetes and the condition is becoming more common."

Anyone wishing to donate money should visit: www.justgiving.com/Jacqui-Young4