New swimmer to complete six races in memory of pal

SHE only learned to swim last year, but Vanessa Jacob is not letting that stop her completing a series of gruelling physical challenges to raise money in memory of her friend.

Miss Jacob is undertaking two triathlons - complete with open-water swimming - one half marathon, a 2km swim, a 10km run and a marathon all in less than 12 months.

The 31-year-old is raising funds for The Stroke Association following the sudden death of her friend last December.

Linda Hunter suffered a stroke at the age of just 46 and did not recover.

Miss Jacob, who lives just off Leith Walk, worked with Linda at BSkyB in Dunfermline.

She said: "Linda was the life and soul of the party. She loved dancing, being out and having fun.

"She was very dedicated and came into work no matter what and stayed until the job was done.

"We found out in early December that she had had a stroke and unfortunately she had been on her own at the time. She was found and taken to hospital but she passed away.

"There was no long illness and this was very out of the blue.

"In January, when I was out running, I was thinking how miserable it was and how freezing it was, but then I thought that I actually didn't have anything to complain about.

"I was thinking about Linda a lot and I thought that I wanted to try and do something good in her memory."

Miss Jacob has already completed one of her six challenges - the Bruce Open Water Sprint at Lochore, Fife, where she swam 750m in the loch, cycled 24km and ran 5km.

Her next challenge is a "DIY" triathlon this weekend, as the original one she was due to take part in was cancelled, where she will swim 1.9km, cycle 90km and run 21.1km.

In September, she will run the Dublin half marathon and then take part in the Great Scottish Swim at Strathclyde Country Park.

The following month, Miss Jacob will do the 10km Bupa Great Edinburgh Run.

She hopes to finish off her ten-month challenge by running the London Marathon in April, but she is still awaiting confirmation of her place.

Miss Jacob ran her first marathon in Edinburgh in 2008, followed by the Dublin Marathon in 2009 and the New York Marathon last November.

Her biggest challenge this time has been to take on the swimming events.

She said: "I have learned to swim in the past 18 months.

"Before that, I could paddle in the pool when I was on holiday but that was about it.

"My friend coaxed me into the water because he used to be a swimming instructor.

"Finding time to train is difficult, so I'm trying to train before work, at lunchtimes and after work."It takes commitment to do the training."

Kirsty Scott, fundraiser for The Stroke Association Scotland, described Miss Jacob as "an inspiration".

To donate, visit http://www.justgiving.com/VJacob