A mum-of-two is gearing herself up for a mammoth swimming challenge to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

Paula Foreman, from Leybourne, is aiming to complete a 26.2-mile swim for Breast Cancer

Now after seeing one of her best friend’s battle against the disease.

The 48-year-old will tackle the gruelling 17-hour feat at Nemes Diving and Watersports Academy at Holborough Lakes, near Snodland, on Friday, August 5.

She plans to start at around midnight and hopes to finish the 102 laps of the lake by 5pm the following day.

Mrs Foreman, who has already raised £4,000 of her £5,000 target, decided to do the swim after friend Julie Kelly had breast cancer diagnosed, undergoing radio and chemotherapy over the past couple of years.

The Willowmead resident is no stranger to long distance swimming. She swam from England to France in 1992 and the following year from England to France and back again.

Mrs Foreman, who works as a PA, will tackle the marathon swim wearing just a swimsuit, hat and goggles as that’s what she’s used to under the British Long Distance Swimming Association rules.

She said: “It’s such a hard thing to explain. You have to keep thinking to yourself – ‘another five laps, another five laps’. You have to keep telling yourself to keep going.

“Mentally it’s better to swim into the day than into the night.

“I’m really excited but I’m also nervous because you can’t take these things for granted.

“You need to be positive and you have to realise it’s a big challenge.”

Throughout the swim she is allowed to stop once and fuel up, but only by treading water while taking a drink and a small snack from her team who will be kayaking along the route with her.

Mrs Foreman added: “I’d like to thank everyone who has donated so far and I’d like to say a big thank you to Glebe Fencing Ltd and Maiford Ltd for their generous donations.

"Nemes Diving Centre have been fantastic with all the effort they have put in to make this happen.”

Donate online at justgiving.com/fundraising/Paula-Foreman-SwimmingAMarathon