A KEEN fundraiser will be swimming across the English Channel to raise money for an inspirational boy with cerebral palsy.

David Grocott and his wife, Jessica, set up Team Angus after their son suffered oxygen starvation when he was born in May 2017.

The couple, who live near Colchester, knew he would face a lifetime of complications and started fundraising for treatment months after his birth.

Angus, who is now two, has brain damage and his body’s co-ordination is severely affected.

His condition is also known as quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Alex Cox, a new friend of the family, is attempting to raise £10,000 to send the family to America for more life-changing therapy.

He will swim across the English Channel, which is about 21 miles from Dover to France, at the end of August.

Alex, 29, from Colchester, said: “I used to swim for Colchester when I was about 13 but it wasn’t something I really pursued.

“I have done events for charities before but I fell out of love with doing stuff for big charities and not knowing where your money is going.

“My partner is a friend of David’s so we sat down and had a chat.”

Alex was keen to support young Angus who has made great progress so far and even said his first word in America last year.

Alex said: “Angus’s story is personal and you see the results.

“If I raised £10,000 he could go to America and see some drastic changes.

“With big charities £10,000 just gets swallowed up, it’s just a small drop in the ocean.”

He will swim the Channel between August 20 and 29, but a date has not yet been set.

The distance equals 1,352 lengths of a 25m swimming pool, but then you have the icy cold waters to deal with.

He said: “I have been preparing for a year, just training every day, sometimes twice a day.

“You have to do a qualifying swim and I’ve been doing lots of swimming outdoors.

“The temperature will be between 15 degrees and 18 degrees which is very cold, this is the first big swim I would have done and the anxiety is building now.

“I’m enjoying the whole process. I will have a support group and my family on the boat.

“The first goal is to complete it so I don’t care how long it takes, but I’m hoping for 14 hours.”

The fastest swim is a little over seven hours and the longest nearly 27 hours.

But time is not the main goal for Alex, who says raising money for Angus is his top priority.

Angus’ family took their first £10,000 trip to America last year.

He underwent transformative treatment in Boston, Massachusetts, at the world-renowned Napa centre. The family was told not to get their hopes up, but Angus shocked everyone when he said his first word - Go.

Jess was two days overdue expecting the arrival of Angus, her second child.

As they drove to Colchester Hospital, Angus’s birth accelerated and he was born in the car in the fast lane of the A120.

He was initially stillborn but paramedics managed to bring him back and save his life.

Angus was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where he stayed for a month before being transferred back to Colchester Hospital.

The treatment he now receives, including physiotherapy and chiropractor sessions, is likely to be for life.

To find out more and support Angus visit www.gofundme.com/team-angus.

To find out more about Alex’s fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alex-cox-1.