A brave pensioner aims to conquer her fear of water by taking the plunge in a bid to raise £1,000 for charity.

Nora Whitham cannot swim without the aid of arm-bands but the sporting 62-year-old is joining the Swimathon 2002 event.

The retired nursing teacher has set a goal of a width of the Richard Dunn pool, where she is taking lessons, to boost the coffers of the Bradford Macmillan Appeal.

Mrs Whitham, of Rhodesway, said the challenge for such a good cause was an incentive to her to ditch her flotation aids and go for it.

"All my life I have wanted to learn to swim but I was born in South Africa and couldn't swim because of apartheid," she said. "I came over here in 1960 and one of my priorities was to learn but I couldn't get there every week and I had two incidents on holiday when I nearly drowned.

"I have a fear of the water but this is a tremendous incentive for me. I will try to control my panic and hope to get across the pool without any floats - about ten metres."

Mrs Whitham, who is supported in her bid by her husband John, says she would ideally like to reach a target of £1,000 for the appeal.

The Swimathon 2002 event takes place from March 18 to 24 and people of all ages can register for Simply Swim which lets people set their own distances. Registration is £5 and 85 per cent of the money raised goes to Macmillan Cancer Relief and 15 per cent to smaller charities, local to the pools.

Michelle Norcliffe, Bradford Appeal Officer, said people can opt to support the Bradford Macmillan Appeal which is raising £500,000 to fund six specialist nurses and an ethnic minorities liaison officer.

She said: ''Simply Swim' is a wonderful event for everyone and anyone and we are hoping lots of people will register for the event. Not only can you raise money for a very worthy cause but you can keep fit."

Sign up by calling the Bradford Appeal Office on (01274) 365905 or go online to www.swimathon.org.