SHENFIELD man Pete Searles is zipping up his wetsuit to swim four-and-a-half miles around an island on Sunday to boost funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The 30 year old will attempt to circumnavigate Brownsea Island – the largest of eight islands in Poole Harbour, located off the Dorset coast – in memory of his grandmother Stella Wells.

The 84 year old, from Corringham, Essex, died in 2007 after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In putting his fitness to the test Pete hopes to raise at least £500 towards pioneering dementia research.

Pete said he and his family used to go to Sandbanks in Poole on holiday, and had to give the swim a go once he heard of it.

He added: “My nan had a brilliant mind. She was highly intelligent and was always quoting from books. She was also a brilliant artist and she loved doing floral arrangements for her local church.

"I can’t remember exactly when her memory started to go as I was only young, but she started forgetting simple things that had just happened and repeating herself more and more."

To donate to Pete’s cause visit at www.justgiving.com/pete-searles-swim