By Dan Dove

A HAMPSHIRE woman is donning her swimsuit in an attempt to swim across the English Channel..

Freelance photographer Deborah Herridge will take the plunge in Dover today and will navigate one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world one way to Cap Gris-Nez, just south of Calais.

Her 21-mile swim will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Canine Partners, which provides assistance dogs to the disabled.

The 49-year-old from Lee-on-the-Solent is aiming to complete the crossing in 14 hours, depending on conditions.

Last month a man died whilst swimming the Channel during the Arch to Arch challenge between England and France, which sees participants run, swim and cycle the route from Marble Arch in London to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Deborah said this had not deterred her.

“No it doesn’t scare me. I’m healthy and fit and if anything did go wrong I would listen to my crew and captain and end the swim if I wasn’t feeling well,” she said.

In recognition of her efforts, Canine Partners will reward Deborah by giving her the chance to name a new puppy.

“I’ve chosen to name it June, which is my mum’s name. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it now, so that’s my mum’s legacy really and it makes me smile.”

Deborah’s mum battled and beat breast cancer twenty years ago but later died due to heart problems at the age of 70.

Her English Channel swim has currently raised £6,696, beating its target of £5,000. To find out morevisit justgiving.com/teams/Deborahs-EnglishChannelSwim.