A FORENSIC psychologist swam 43 miles in less than 48 hours to raise £2,200 to support her friend who has pancreatic cancer.

Rebecca Jarre, 44, from Bacup, teamed up with seven other women and girls for the two-day challenge, travelling the 11C lochs of Caledonia Way in four-hour stretches.

The group took on Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour in Scotland, all completing what should have been a three-day challenge in two, after discovering the Loch Ness Marathon meant roads were shut on Sunday.

The mum-of-two swam for her friend Cath Winterburn, 61, who has terminal pancreatic cancer after and was told she should not expect to live past December 2012.

Rebecca said: “It was absolutely fantastic. Everything went to plan. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, with sunshine and very little wind. The Scottish people are just beautiful. People heard about our swim and came to watch us and cheer us on. Then later on in the pub people were making donations. It was absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately Cath wasn’t well enough to watch us because of the level of her illness, but she was very happy.”

The team’s ages ranged from 15 to 60 all at different levels of ability.

Rebecca said: “Some of us found it a little bit harder than others, because some people weren’t used to swimming in lower temperatures, but everything worked out.

“However, while driving across the border to do the challenge, the journey hit a bump in the road. We got a flat tyre and we had to stop and get everything out of the car and it was absolutely packed, then we had to change the tyre.'

To sponsor the team, visit the website which is virginmoneygiving.com/team/openwaterswimmers.