A KNUTSFORD scout has taken the plunge and dove head first into fundraising for next year’s World Scout Jamboree in Japan.

Max Davies, 15, of Hillside Road, is one of the four scouts chosen to represent the Knutsford Scouts at the 2015 event in Yamaguchi City, along with Catherine Eadie, Grace Haselden, and Harry Sanger.

Each scout much raise £3,400 to attend the Jamboree and, to give his funds a boost, Max signed up to take part in two open water swimming events this summer.

The Knutsford Academy student completed the first of the two swims at the weekend, the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere, and will take on the 5 ½ mile Coniston Swim in September.

“The event was great,” said Max. “The water was 17.5degC which seemed quite warm after the initial few strokes and I finished my half mile swim in 16 minutes, 13 seconds which put me in 62nd place out of over 500 half mile entrants.”

Max, who has been training at Boundary Park in Knutsford every Thursday and Sunday since May, is not facing his challenges alone; his dad Steve and his coach Gavin Hewson, from Knutsford Rugby Club, are completing them too.

Now Max needs the support of Knutsfordians to reach his fundraising goal.

Max said: “To those thinking of sponsoring me I would say, please do. Scouts is one of the biggest youth movements in the world and the Jamboree is something that commemorates that, and to be part of that, along with Harry, Grace and Catherine, would be a true honour.

“I feel very lucky.”

To make a donation, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/maxgoesswimming