AN ASTHMATIC woman with a lifelong fear of water is swimming a mile-and-a-quarter for charity, in memory of a family friend who died of cancer.

Christina Payne, 55, of Carlton Road Redhill, decided to take on 100 lengths of a 25-metre pool to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care which supported 18-year-old Charlotte Fawcett, a St Bede's School pupil, before she died last summer.

She told the Mirror: "Charlotte was a family friend for a long time, we'd known her since she was two. We [Mrs Payne's husband and two grown-up sons] were all devastated when she died last year after an 18-month battle, and I said I wanted to do something in her memory.

"Marie Curie gave Charlotte 24/7 care for the last three weeks of her life and I thought this was the least I could do.

"I've always had a fear of swimming. As a child they thought the way to overcome my fear was to make me jump in the deep end, but it just reinforced it."

To conquer her fears, she went to The Hawthorns Swimming School, based at The Hawthorns School in Pendell Court, Bletchingley, in April.

She asked for help, but she soon realised her asthma would hold her back as much as her fear of water.

Mrs Payne explained: "I have been asthmatic for years after a severe bout of pneumonia. I can get very short of breath when I get stressed or exercise. Being anxious or concerned can trigger an attack.

"I started my lessons and was struggling.

"I would do two lengths and I would be completely out of breath and use my inhaler. I saw my doctor and they changed my medication and now I don't get quite so breathless.

"But my swimming instructor Richard [Feiste] gained my trust and didn't make me do anything I didn't want to do. At first I swam close to the side, then he had me put my face in the water. It was little by little – and I suddenly found I could do it."

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mrs Payne for her swim on March 10, should go to www.justgiving.com/Christina-Payne