COLLEGE lecturer Rachel Reed is preparing to fulfil one of the more unusual childhood ambitions – a gruelling 22-mile swim across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The 31-year-old, from Weymouth, will swap the classroom for the open water when she tackles the tough English Channel crossing at the end of the summer.

If all goes to plan, she will spend around 16 hours in the water after leaving Dover, before walking ashore at Calais on the French coast.

Rachel said: “I’ve always wanted to do this, ever since I was 14. It may seem odd to people but I like getting into the cold water – I actually like being a little out of my depth.”

As a member of Weyport Masters Swimming Club, she’s already clocked up an impressive six hours 50 minutes for the Lake Windermere swim in 2007.

And she completes lengthy open water sessions in Weymouth Bay on a weekly basis.

More people have reached the summit of Mount Everest than completed the English Channel swim, which is testimony to the gruelling nature of the task at hands.

Rachel, of Lodmoor Avenue – who works with Weymouth College students who need additional learning support – will swim for the RNLI and the British Stammering Association.

You can visit website www. justgiving.com/rachelreed3 or www.justgiving.com /rachelreed2 to donate.

Rachel said: “My main worry is muscle ache. When I did the Windermere swim the whole of the bottom half of my body seized up, but I was able to fight it.”