A WEYMOUTH woman will take on her third challenge tomorrow to raise money for a children’s charity.

Andrea Hawkins, of Lynch Lane, will be swimming across Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

It will be approximately 12 hours of non-stop swimming, covering a total distance of 16-and-a-half miles.

Andrea has already swum Loch Ness as part of the Loch and Lake Challenge that this swim will complete, as well as the English Channel – both for charity.

The previous swims she has completed have been part of a relay team, with each of them taking turns in the water to complete the distance.

She said: “This is the first swim I have done without being part of a relay so it will be really tough and my hardest swim yet.”

Mrs Hawkins has been training hard, swimming in the sea from Weymouth Harbour at every available moment.

She added: “All of my free time is spent swimming. If my family ask where I am they soon realise that I’m swimming.”

Mental training is just as important as physical for long distance feats, but a confident Andrea said: “I just count my stroke and zone out to a meditation-like state and the hours just seem to slip past.”

Husband Ian and son Ethan will be cheering her on the whole journey with Ian rowing the safety life boat and Ethan providing food.

Mrs Hawkins has already raised more than £2,000 for charity from her previous swims and is hoping to raise over £500 this time round for Julia’s House, which she describes as ‘a great charity which does some really wonderful work’.

Donations can be made at justgiving.com/andrea-hawkins