A BRAMLEY mum is preparing to swim solo around the island of Jersey to raise money for a children’s hospice.

Zoe Sadler hopes to complete the 41-mile continuous swim in memory of a little girl who died of cancer.

Amelia Saunders passed away at Naomi House Children’s Hospice in January 2013 after battling a rare form of the disease.

She attended the same school as Zoe’s two children, and Zoe hopes her swim will raise vital funds for the hospice, in Sutton Scotney, where Amelia was cared for.

The 41-year-old, of Farriers Close, had planned to swim around Jersey last year, but her challenge had to be cancelled because of Hurricane Bertha.

She said: “I am very excited about my swim and my training has been going really well so far. However, as I am 41-years-old with a full-time job, a husband and two children, this will be quite a challenge.

“I will be following the ‘Channel Rules’ and wearing just one swimming costume, a swimming cap and a pair of goggles.”

Zoe, who works as a pensions actuary at KPMG in Reading, will completely circumnavigate the island.

She said: “Once I have started my swim I am not allowed to touch the escort boat or another person until I have finished. However, I can be passed food and drinks in a bottle or in a cup.”

Zoe will be accompanied by an escort boat called Lionheart, which she has self-funded, meaning any money raised will go straight to Naomi House.

She hopes the water temperature will warm up to around 18C by the time of the challenge, which could take place anytime from this weekend.

She said: “The Round Jersey solo swim has only been completed 95 times to date.

This compares with 2,025 English Channel solo swims.”

Zoe, who has completed numerous swimming challenges and trains with the Masters squad at Basingstoke Bluefins, has prepared for the challenge by doing a two way swim across Lake Bala in Wales last Saturday, covering six miles.

To sponsor Zoe visit virginmoneygiving.com/ZoeSadler.