TO SWIM a hundred miles in just 100 days would be a stretch for most.

But for one Winchester woman she's got all the motivation she needs who is swimming in aid of her nephew.

Ten-year-old Zac Giles, of St Peter's Street in Bishop's Waltham, was diagnosed with leukaemia last June and has been courageously battling his way through chemotherapy ever since.

And with the help of his loving aunt, Emma Giles, he's getting all the support he needs.

Ms Giles, 44, of Bar End Road, said: “It's the one sport I can do well and I do quite regularly so I thought I'd try doing 100 miles in a 100 days because I wanted to do something for Zac.

“I obviously didn't give too much thought to what I was getting myself into because when I tell people what I'm doing most people think I'm balmy!”

Zac, who hopes to join his friends at Bishop's Waltham Junior School ready for the next academic year, said: “I'm really proud of my aunt for doing so well.”

Ms Giles hopes to raise close to £3,000 for the Magic Wand Appeal, a charity raising funds to improve the children's unit at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, and the Piam Brown ward in Southampton General Hospital where Zac has been receiving treatment.

She was spurred on by her brother Guy, 41, Zac's dad, as well as his mum Dawn, 42, and his little sister Amelie, eight, when Emma swam over 22 miles on Saturday (January 11).

Dawn said: “Zac has been really brilliant and has put everything he's got into getting better. He's sat there watching his aunt swim wishing he could just get in there with her and join in the fun.

“It's a really important cause and there's so many other families going through this and we would urge anyone considering donating blood or bone marrow to look into it because it really does save lives.”

For more information or to donate to Zac's cause visit virginmoneygiving.com/EmsGilesswimming100milesin100days.