Rebecca’s icy dip for charity

IN the swim ... Rebecca Jarre begins her three-day, four loch, 42-mile challenge today

AN Oldham woman barred from swimming as a child due to ear problems is preparing to swim four Scottish lochs for charity.

Rebecca Jarre was told not to swim by her dad as a child — and now she is leading an all-women team aiming to swim 42 miles of lochs linked by the Caledonian Canal.

She loves Scotland’s wild waters and says some of its island beaches are “like the Bahamas - without the heat!”

Recalling her early years of swimming, she said: “I wasn’t supposed to get my ears wet because of grommets in my ears, but I used to secretly swim with a friend. We then moved outdoors to Oldham’s Alexandra Park lake and Dovestone Reservoir. It was great. I loved the adrenalin-rush of cold water and the fresh air.”

The three-day challenge begins today at Loch Lochy in the Highlands. The eight-strong team will then swim Loch Oich, 14 miles of Loch Ness’ total 22-mile length, and will end with Loch Dochfour on Sunday. The water is expected to have an average temperature of 4°C.

The swim will raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund (PCRF) on behalf of a friend who has the cancer.

Rebecca added: “I hope we will raise a lot of money for this very worthwhile charity.

“I’ve been a cold water swimmer for years now and it just seems right to be taking on this challenge.”