BOXING legend Sir Henry Cooper has lent his support to the Callum Kaye appeal.

The former heavyweight champion will be the guest of honour at a sporting dinner, which has been organised by OTT Events, to raise funds for the youngster.

The fundraiser, sponsored by K & EJ Crump & Son, family butchers in Wootton Bassett, is being held at the Wiltshire Golf and Country Club on February 29. It will be followed by a race night, which will take place on March 9 at the Ganges Restaurant, in Wootton Bassett.

Steve Thatcher, PR and marketing executive for OTT Events, said the whole of Wootton Bassett was behind the event.

He said: "We looked for sponsors and Crump butchers offered to sponsor the dinner event. And the owner of Ganges restaurant said that he would be happy to host something.'' As for getting the champion boxer involved the organisers had a helping hand.

"We knew someone who knew Henry's agent. We managed to get Henry's preferred comedian Al Read to attend and went from there."

The Callum Kaye appeal has raised in excess of £60,000, but that is still not enough to get the five-year-old the lifesaving treatment he needs.

The Penhill youngster has a brain tumour and his parents need £170,000 to send their son for pioneering treatment to the Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York. Doctors in the UK have said he has five months to live.

Steve said: "I have two older children and a five-month-old baby. I know if it were any of my kids I would feel glad to know that I had the support of the Swindon community. I think we, as a country, are always doing charitable appeals internationally and perhaps we should focus a little more on our own communities."

The sporting dinner starts at 7.30pm and will include a memorabilia auction, Irish bingo and a raffle. Tickets cost £70 each or £650 for a table of 10. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards the appeal, while OTT Events will make a donation to the appeal from the auction and bingo proceeds.

The race night at the Ganges restaurant will be a screened race event and people can bet on various races and a three-course meal is included. Tickets are £12.50 with proceeds to the appeal. For more information or tickets to these events contact OTT Events on 01793 327113. For information on the Callum appeal or to make a donation visit www.callumsappeal.co.uk.