"It's a challenge to stay fit and I am not yet old going into 50. I just want to find out if I can do it too", said Monica Liew, the spirited lady from Kuching, when asked why she has chosen to go to such extremes to challenge herself at this age?

Liew, the young-at-heart-mother of solo English Channel swimmer Lennard Lee ( right ) was so inspired by her son's feat in 2004 that she signed up for a six-member relay team that included two disabled swimmers to cross the English Channel in 13 hours, 56 minutes on Sept 14.

And once is not enough for Monica - she plans to return next year.

"I love the sea and would not give it up for anything," said the sporty lady adding that she planned to return for a two-way relay swim in the channel next year with the same group.

But the time she spent in the sea on Sept 14 was not without difficulties - she even had a close brush with death. Due to an initial confusion, she strayed into the path of the boat where the pilot could not see her. As a result, Monica was nearly butted by the escort boat and was almost overcome by the fumes from the engine and heavy swells trailing behind.

"The darkness ahead was a fearful experience and when I looked backwards, the bow was almost above me so there was no way the pilot could see me. I reacted by throwing myself on the other side and I could see the mayhem onboard with crew searching for me in the dark sea", she related one of the terrifying moments of her life.

Upon calming down, there was no time to admire the sunrise or the ferries. She said, "My brain activity came to a stop and all energy was being directed to perform the strokes in the water."

"Yes - the first 10 minutes, I have thought seriously of my survival and my bed at home in London. I felt like giving up," she said, adding that her greatest fear then was if she could survive her first one hour. Out of the 40km crossing, each swimmer had to swim about 7.2 km.

Liew is currently a radiotherapist student at University College London Hospital. She is married to Johorean Dr Lee Siow Ming, now a medical oncologist and principle researcher doing cancer trials at Cancer Research, UK. Her older son Lennard is in his final medical year at Queen's College Oxford while the younger, Julian is taking up a management course at Christ's College, Cambridge

Liew is here with Rentakini in an e-mail interview.

Rentakini: How did you feel after you have completed you swim?

Monica Liew: It was great! It felt like a mission accomplished and I was very happy and satisfied! Of course, I'm really pleased with myself. I didn't know I am such a strong-willed person.

After I decided in October 2005 to do the crossing, I trained in the swimming pool and ran in the park all these months throughout winter. I then resumed sea training from June onwards, always on my own with no training coach or partner.

What did your sons say after they learned of your achievement?

Both boys text me while I was in Dover prior to the start with the same message, "Get on and do it, mummy. Don't stop, keep moving!"

When I finished, Lennard yelled down his mobile with "I'm so proud of you, mummy!" Julian was most impressed.

Why did you support your son to swim across the English Channel and what makes you want to do it too?

Lennard wanted to swim the channel in 2001 when he was 16. I didn't want him to as he was still in training and competing at national level galas. Then in 2004, he again said he wanted to cross the channel. He was fit and adventurous so I can only support his dream.

As to why I did it toowell, I like the sea and I don't feel the cold as much. Swimming is a sport I enjoy so I just put in more training. ( Photo: Lennard meeting Pak Lah in KL after his solo swim in 2004 )

Where and how did you get support to join the mission?

I train by myself during the evenings on weekdays at a small fitness centre pool near my place in London. On most Sundays, I went down by train to Dover and trained in the sea on my own under Tanya. She's Eltham Swimming Club's coach whom I got to know when Lennard was training in Dover in 2004.

I didn't know who were in my relay team until the night we started out because Tanya had got three teams across this year. We all paid up privately. No time to get sponsorship because we are all working fulltime.

I believe your hubby gave his undivided support to you too.

At least, he didn't say I cannot take part...( laughter )

Have you participated in competitive sports before?

I ran for my secondary school in Kuching. In UK, I have been quite busy officiating as a national swimming official and running galas. I was a timer and scoring official for squash at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002.

How do you take care of yourself (your health) since you must be very healthy and strong?

I'm lucky to inherit a strong Hakka gene. I've always been a hyperactive person and only this year, I corrected my swim strokes and resume running (the last time I ran was in secondary school). Not a gym or fitness centre person - it's too boring.

Any advice for women your age?

Yes, we now live longer - so staying healthy and happy is important!

What does your family enjoy most while you have the time to be together?

Eating and talking like Malaysians do. On family holidays, we like to swim, snorkel or dive in the sea. Walking up/climbing mountains is another favourite pastime.

Do you consider your family a 'sporty' family?

Yes. My husband plays squash. Both my boys are swimmers and rowers at university. I run or swim for leisure. We all cycle.