Legal secretary Jane Phillips has devoted the past two years to speed-swimming — losing around 7st in the process.

And she recently helped to launch Swimathon 2009, the world’s biggest charity swim, alongside Eleanor Simmonds, Team GB’s youngest-ever Paralympic double gold medallist, and former Olympic champion Duncan Goodhew.

Now in its 23rd year, Swimathon has raised more than £32 million for various charities. It will take place in more than 500 pools across the UK from April 16-19.

Ms Phillips, 47, was inspired to get involved after taking part in last year’s event, where she swam 200 lengths — around three miles — in order to raise money for charity.

She had been a regular swimmer since she was 16, but purely for leisure. “It was ‘me’ time, when I could think,” she tells People. But the change came when, to celebrate their silver wedding, Ms Phillip’s husband, John, told her they were going on a cruise. “I was not going on any cruise because my weight had doubled since I got married. I weighed 16st. The thought of that prompted me to get fit and go on a diet.”

She joined a gym and started aqua-aerobics and speed swimming, which led to her participation in Swimathon.

“I started swimming with my 17-year-old daughter Marianne, but last year I swam 200 lengths myself in two and a half hours and I got a medal for that.”

This year she will be swimming again to raise money for Marie Curie
Cancer Care.