DEVIZES School pupil Katie Izzard is getting ready for a marathon ten-kilometre swim to raise money to send her to Kenya to teach English to children in village schools.

Katie, 16, will have to swim 400 lengths of the pool at Devizes Leisure Centre.

The long-standing member of Marlborough Penguins swimming club will split her effort over two nights, starting tomorrow and continuing on Sunday.

She is training for the swim at Marlborough Leisure Centre.

Her mother, Sue, said: "Katie has been swimming since she was three and is a county level swimmer. Her main stroke is butterfly but I don't know if she will be using that on her sponsored swim.

"She is really looking forward to going to Kenya next July. She is going with Camps International and has to raise £2,500 for the trip. The sponsored swim will be her main money-raising effort."

Katie did well in her GCSE results last summer, getting one A*, six As, three Bs and two Cs. She is now deeply involved in study for AS levels and is contemplating a career as a meteorologist.

So the outlook for Katie is wet but warm and very bright.

Anyone who wants to sponsor her should contact Mrs Izzard on (01380) 721273.