A WORCESTER-based npower employee is set to follow in his ancestor’s swim strokes when he rows across the English Channel to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Rob Webb’s forefather, Captain Matthew Webb, was the first man to swim the Channel back in 1875.

The intranet manager has now been selected as a member of an RWE npower squad and is one of four Worcester workers in the 36-strong team, along with Clare McDougall, Chris Harris and Simon Bottfield.

Mr Webb said: “Although my sport is long distance cycling, the attraction of crossing the Channel is clearly in the genes.”

The team is hoping to set off on the challenge this weekend, but are dependent on the weather.

Each participant has raised a minimum of £100 and it is hoped that with the additional help of npower’s match-funding initiative, they will raise a minimum of £6,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

To sponsor the team, visit the fund-raising page justgiving.com/MacmillanChannelRow.