TWO caped crusaders are fighting the cause to help raise £30,000 for a children’s home in Worcester.

Old school friends Callum Davies and James Underwood, both aged 24, are raising money for a sensory garden at Green Hill Lodge children’s home for youngsters with autism, which affects half of the home’s residents.

The pair – better known as Batman and Robin – became aware of the facility when carers from the home visited the Rotary Club of Worcester South looking for support for the project after funding fell through.

Autism, which can cause the five senses to be over- or under-sensitive, can create difficulties in young people’s experiences of the world and can cause them anxiety.

But a sensory garden can help to combat this as it can calm or stimulate the senses and help them to regulate.

The pair have already raised £300 by running the Malvern Half Marathon.

Mr Davies, of Brickfields, a former member of Rotary who has put his commitment on hold to focus on his career as a marketing co-ordinator at Caption Data Limited, said he was pleased with their efforts so far.

“It’s going really well,”he said. “I’m really excited about it and we’ve had a great reception from everyone involved.

“The Malvern Half Marathon was pretty hot. The only problem was the suits. In the heat I was roasting..”

Batman and Robin’s next fundraiser, where they will be running non-stop on a treadmill, is being held atAsda on August 23.

They will also be taking part in the Evesham Vale 10k on Sunday, the Worcester City 10k alongside Paula Ratcliffe on September 21, and the Robin Hood Half Marathon on September 28.

So far, more than £7,000 has been raised towards the project by donations from a father of one of the children with autism, Hayley Moran, who has organised fundraising events, and the Rotary Club.

Emma Lyall, team manager at Green Hill Lodge, said: “We’re blown over by the efforts that the young men are going to. Callum and James recently visited the home as Batman and Robin, and one of the children said it was the best day of his life.”

To sponsor Batman and Robin, visit justgiving.com/ sponsorbatmanandrobin or text “BATM90” followed by “£1, £2, £5, or £10” to 70070.