BRAVE fundraiser Gary Aspden is hoping he hasn't bitten off more than he can chew when he takes the plunge to dive with sharks in a bid to improve the lives of terminally ill youngsters.

Gary, 26, of Fielding Lane, Oswaldtwistle, took up scuba diving five years ago to join the bite for cash for the Make a Wish Foundation which helps dreams come true for children with serious illnesses.

Since then he has forked out nearly £500 to pass the qualifications needed to take on the challenge which will bring him face to face with Tiger Sharks, Stingrays, and Lemon Sharks.

Tiger Sharks grow to between 11 and 14 feet and have 900 teeth in 20 rows which they use to seize fish. They are not though to be dangerous to humans. Lemon Sharks grow up to 11 feet and can be a danger to humans, but are not that aggressive. There have been 22 reported attacks on humans, but no deaths.

But Gary -- who has previously raised more than £2,000 for the charity -- says he is not worried.

He said: "Most shark attacks happen on the surface as they think you are a seal. But I'm not worried and am just looking forward to getting as close as I can to them.

"My mum might be surprised about the shark swim when she sees this article as I've not told her that I'm doing it yet."

He is scheduled to carry out the sponsored dive on March 25 at the Blue Planet Centre Aquarium in Cheshire. Gary first became involved in fundraising for the Make a Wish Foundation in 1995 and has run three marathons, a parachute jump and attempted to get in the Guinness Book of Records for windwalking, although his bid was put on hold when the civil aviation group stopped allowing the public to participate.

He said: "The work the charity carries out is excellent. I have always liked children and dressed up as Santa at local primary schools from being 11 or 12 to give out lollies and tangerines -- even though I wasn't much taller than them myself. It was one of the schools that first mentioned Make a Wish Foundation to me and I have tried to help as much as possible ever since."

Gary has been practising with diver services in Blackburn. To sponsor him call 01254 382379.