RACHAEL Shaw has successfully completed a 12-hour non-stop swim to a crowd of cheering spectators while raising more than £3,000 for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Through-out the day at the Spirit Health Club in Farnborough members, friends, family and hotel staff came to cheer Rachael on.

Her 12-hour challenge kicked off at 6.30am right through to 6.30 in the evening. As 5pm slowly crept up she started to feel the pain. “I think anyone watching then could tell as I was slapping the water rather than my normal swim stroke, but luckily I had a member called Gerri Shirreff who kept me company for the last two-and-a-half hours” said Rachael.

“We had a laugh but also had an understanding of when we needed to go off on our own for a bit, to stretch out our shoulders.”

At 5.45pm people started to gather and cheer Rachael on, giving her words of encouragement right through to the last second. She added: “I looked to see quite a big crowd had come to show their support, I was pretty shocked.

“When I came out of the pool I got dressed and walked into the reception where everyone was waiting and cheering, with that I got handed a glass of Champagne.

“They sat me down and Phyllis Tuckwell’s Fiona Chapman along with Jane Standing (general manager of the hotel) revealed the total amount I had raised up until then, which was £3,187.

“I was overcome with emotion and burst into tears, I couldn’t believe how much it was. I now ache a lot and my shoulder is giving me a few problems, like I can barely move it but I don’t mind as I did it and raised so much for a great cause.”