A STOURBRIDGE fundraiser is taking the plunge and swimming the length of one of the country’s largest lakes in memory of his son.

Stuart Henderson, 53, will tackle the 5.25 mile swim across Coniston Water in the Lake District to raise money for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide.

His fundraising efforts for the charity are in honour of his son Toby, who took his own life in October 2014 when he was just 33-years-old.

Stuart said: “Toby was a wonderful son and we will all carry him in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Suicide is not something I would wish on any parent, but it is something that could affect us all.

“I wanted to help CALM because of the support that they give to people who are thinking about suicide.

“If they can reach out to just one more young man who needs their help as a result of generous donations, then I will consider my very small efforts worth it.

“I hope to raise about £1,000 for the charity, and I have already had about £450 donated on my just giving page, which is brilliant.”

Stuart will be joining 700 other people – including fellow fundraisers and competitive swimmers – for the open water event on Saturday, September 3.

He added: “My family will be coming up there to support me as will a couple of Toby’s friends.

“I have never done anything like this before. My legs aren’t what they used to be and I have arthritis so doing a run was out of the question, but I’m looking forward to the experience.”

To support Stuart on his fundraising swim and to donate to Campaign Against Living Miserably visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Stuart-Henderson14