Swimming her way to weight loss and charity funds

Bethany Smith (24), of Moorgate, will be taking part in the Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraising swim at Rotherham Leisure Centre on Sunday.

The event is the UK’s biggest fundraising swim and has raised more than £12.4 million for Marie Curie during its seven years.

Bethany said she wanted to take part to raise money for the cause as family and friends had been affected by cancer.

In ten weeks of training she has lost 2st 9lbs \a taking her from 24st to 21st 5lbs and giving her a new lease of life.

She said: “I feel so much better for it.

“I’ve changed my diet, too, as before I just used to eat because I was bored, or when I’d find myself alone or upset I’d comfort eat.”

Bethany will be completing the 2.5k swim, which is around 100 lengths in the 25-metre pool, and hopes to do it in 90 minutes.

The leisure centre is holding a swimathon today and tomorrow, with the choice of 5km, 2.5km or 1.5km challenges.

Registration is open to all ages and abilities. For more information visit www.swimathon.org.

To sponsor Bethany visit http://tinyurl.com/ony96ym.