TWO Chester fundraisers are preparing to swim the Channel as part of an epic relay fundraiser.

Will Smith, 32 and Lawrence Gibson, 30, both from Chester, will join fellow fundraiser Rosh Lewis in donning their Speedos in an attempt to swim the English Channel as a relay team.

Depending on weather and tides, the charity challenge will take place between September 13-20 and could take them between 11 and 20 hours combined.

Will, a freelance classical singer, explained how funds from the epic event will be going to their chosen charity, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

He said: "I have a close family member who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. He’s a father and a very fit person who has never smoked.

"I was surprised to discover that 10-15 per cent of lung cancer sufferers have never smoked as I was under the impression that it was a 'smokers disease'.

"It is the most common cause of cancer related death in men and the second highest in women after breast cancer.

"Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only UK lung cancer charity dedicated to helping everyone affected by the disease.

"Since 1990, RCLCF have funded millions of pounds of essential lung cancer research, looking for ways to detect the disease as early as possible and save lives."

Will added that he and Lawrence, who works for Barclays, and sports teacher Rosh, have been making waves in training.

He said: "We’ve been swimming 15km in the pool each week for several months – 15 is recommended for a relay, 25 for a solo swim – and also getting in as much sea swimming as possible."

The trio have set up a Justgiving page where funds can be donated at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamtroubleswim.