A GYM owner will swim the English Channel to raise cash to help an old school friend’s seriously-ill son.

Lisa Auchinvole, of tfd health and fitness club in Grove, will brave the chilly water for more than 21 miles when she attempts the challenge in September.

The 39-year-old is raising money for research into the muscle-wasting disease her friend Trudi Carpenter’s eight-year-old son suffers from.

Adam Carpenter has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Mrs Auchinvole hopes to raise more than £5,000 for the Action Duchenne charity.

Mrs Auchinvole, from Mayfield Avenue, Grove, said: “To get motivated to do this challenge I needed to have something really close to my heart – something I could get my teeth into and make a difference.”

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a muscle wasting disease which eventually leads to paralysis and early death.

The money Mrs Auchinvole raises will go towards research into new treatments.

She said: “Anything we do will bring him closer to these new drugs and make a massive difference to his life.”

She has been swimming more than 10 hours a week since February, and has now started swimming outdoors.

She said: “The most important thing is to condition yourself to the cold.

“You have got to be able to keeping telling yourself to get through it.”

Lisa and Trudi, 40, who lives in Langford, Bicester, have known each other for more than 30 years since they met at school in Wantage.

Adam’s condition was diagnosed when he was four.

He has difficulty moving and will soon need a wheelchair.

His mum said: “I am really pleased she has chosen the charity as it will hopefully raise a lot of money for research.”

To sponsor Mrs Auchinvole call the gym on 01235 772995 or visit tfdgym.co.uk/lisaschannelswim