A KIDDERMINSTER man is swimming the Channel in tribute to his 14-year-old brother who died from cancer.

Paul Ingenthron, 20, of Spennells, lost his younger brother Mike to rhabdomyosarcoma cancer in November last year (2009).

He is aiming to raise £6,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation - who organised a holiday break to London for Mike with a stop-off at Madame Tussauds - and Cancer Research UK.

Mr Ingenthron has been receiving support from Kidderminster’s King Charles I School, where both he and Mike were pupils.

The school has already organised a collection at a car boot sale, upper and lower school cake sales, sponsored Xbox gamers who played for 24 hours without stopping and a charity football match between school houses.

A non uniform day and summer term concert are also planned with the school pledging to raise at least £1,000.

Mr Ingenthron, a member of Wyre Forest Swimming Club since 1997, said: “I have been swimming all my life so it just made sense that if I was doing something for charity I should do something like this.”

He explained that he would be swimming from Dover to Calais during the first week of August next year (2011) and estimated it would take between 11 and 13 hours.

He added that he needed time to train but also at least a year to book a pilot, complete with boat and crew, who would be responsible for general safety and keeping him on course.

Mr Ingenthron, a law student at the University of Warwick, said training was going well with 12 hours of swimming a week on top of six hours of “land training” including gym work, circuits and running.

He added that his parents were “concerned but supportive” by the challenge while the loss of “football loving” Mike had been “devastating” for the them all.

He explained that during the last 12 months of his life Mike had bravely endured ongoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment and regular periods in hospital.

Mr Ingenthron said: “Mike was great. He was always really happy. He was an amazing brother. His death was devastating. ”

He added: “King Charles I School have put in a fantastic effort. They have been really supportive just as they were when Mike was alive.”

To sponsor Mr Ingenthron visit paulswimsthechannel.org where you can also download sponsor forms.