Sue Stratton swam 200 lengths to raise nearly £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Sue, 48, from West Swindon, was one of 36 swimmers who took part in a sponsored swimathon at the Link Centre, West Swindon, over the weekend.

She said: "This is the seventh time I have completed the event and it is quite gruelling. But I would definitely do it again, for the right charity."

And Sue managed to complete the course in an impressive two hours and seven minutes.

"I was very pleased with my time and not tired at all. In fact I feel 100 per cent," she added.

Having already raised £1,928, Sue aims to collect £2,000.

The secretary, who works at the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, said: "I hold Macmillan nurses very close to my heart. They do an absolutely wonderful job, above and beyond the call of duty.

"It's something I am very passionate about and I raise as much money as I can to help them.

"My friends and colleagues call me the Italian Mafia when I go round with my sponsorship forms. I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to fundraising."

Sue's tenacity stems from her own heartache after her brother-in-law Paul Strutton died from Hodgkin's Disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, in 1990.

She also has a close friend with breast and bone cancer.

Sue said: "Paul was a lovely man whom I regarded as my own brother.

"He was diagnosed when he was only 18, and battled against it until he died aged 33. He carried on working in Epsom as a motor engineer until just a short while before he died.

"He was incredibly brave throughout the illness, despite spending years going in and out of hospital.

"Now my friend Sandra is very poorly with cancer. She says she would be lost without the care and support of Macmillan nurses.

"She has chemotherapy every week but the nurses are always there for her.

"It doesn't matter what time she calls them, they always help.

"Unfortunately cancer is everywhere and it strikes anyone at any age. When you think that four in 10 people will have cancer at some point, it is frightening."

Taking about her fundraising efforts, Sue said: "My neighbours in Rochford Close come up trumps every time and my family never tire of sponsoring my swims.

"Even my mum who's in her 80s used to come along to watch despite it taking two hours to complete."

Even though Sue has plenty of swims behind her, she says she still feels nervous before taking the plunge. She said: "I'm a very emotional person anyway, but before I start the swim I do get butterflies. I think it's because I know I am doing it for such a good cause and I can't help thinking about the people who are suffering from cancer."

Neil Montgomery, the centre's fitness instructor, joined Sue in the pool. Neil, 32, from Cumberland Road, Old Walcot, said: "The swimathon is so popular it was oversubscribed weeks ahead.

"The Macmillan charity does such a great job that people always want to help.

The centre's recreation manager Carole Jamieson said: "It's marvellous how time and again Sue comes in to raise money for such good causes. I'm really pleased that swimming has captured the public's imagination as a way to raise funds."