FATHER David Stevens is preparing for a marathon swimming session to raise money for charity in memory of his son Tylor who died at the age of 17.

Mr Stevens, 43, of Calne, is raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation which grants wishes to children, including Tylor, fighting life threatening conditions.

Tylor, an art student at John Bentley School in Calne, was born with a complex congenital heart condition and died in June 2013. He had two heart operations at a young age and also suffered from epilepsy and scoliosis.

Mr Stevens, who is training three times a week, will be attempting to swim between five and ten miles between 6.30am to 4pm at the Calne Leisure Centre on September 7, Tylor’s 20th birthday.

The plumbing and heating engineer said: “It’s not about me, I don’t want to be in the spotlight but the smiles the wishes they grant are priceless and that’s something we know personally. I want to do something good for the charity.

“My family all think it’s great, my wife thinks I am mad but everyone is supportive and once I’ve decided to do something I do it.

“Make a Wish grant many many wishes there’s lots of children with lots of problems who are given smiles through it. When you have an ill child it can really bring you down, but it’s the happy memories that can get you through that.”

Mr Stevens was originally hoping to swim the 11 miles across Lake Windermere in the Lake District on the second anniversary of Tylor’s death but illness hit his training and he was unable to take on the challenge.

Instead he’s hoping people will come out and support him and his ambition to raise £1,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation. The foundation gave Tylor his treasured bright orange laptop which became full of photos and videos demonstrating his strong creative streak.

A popular student at John Bentley School, where he achieved an A* in art, Tylor was recognised by the art department at the school last year with memorial art work being placed on a wall outside the art block.

Tylor was an avid Doctor Who fan with parents David and Samantha Stevens choosing a specially designed Tardis coffin for their son’s cremation while many staff and students at John Bentley, who wore his favourite colour orange for the service at the West Wiltshire Crematorium.

To support Mr Stevens’ marathon swim visit: www.justgiving.com/David-Stevens13