A MAN who suffers with a debilitating muscle condition is to cycle from coast to coast to raise money for a charity that helped him.

Henry Ramsey, 44, of Richmond Park, Darwen, suffers with dystonia, a neurological muscular condition that causes involuntary spasms.

Accompanied by his cousin Paul Gibson, 55, of Glazebury, near Leigh, Henry will ride from Tyneside to Whitehaven in four days.

The pair hope to raise more than £3,000 for the Dystonia Society and the Macmillan Cancer Support.

Two years ago Henry (pictured) was diagnosed with the condition and has to travel to Sheffield every 10 weeks for treatment, but said he considers himself lucky as it could be worse.

He said: "Most people are mis-diagnosed for an average of five years. I was lucky because I was diagnosed quickly and with regular treatment I am able to work and enjoy my leisure time.

"I am lucky to be able to live a normal life. Some are not so fortunate and are wheelchair bound with it."

He said he was raising money for the Dystonia Society as local volunteers had helped him come to terms with the hereditary condition in the early days.

And also for Macmillan Cancer Support because the charity helped his father Sam who died aged 80 in 2002 after a 14-year battle with various cancers.

Henry, a sports development officer for the council, is married to Debbie, 42, an operations manager.

The Reivers coast to coast route, that the pair will ride, is 180 miles long, and includes 66 miles of off-road track, the pair will average 45 miles a day.

They will start on Thursday, June 15 and finish on Sunday, June 18.

Henry has been a keen cyclist for more than 27 years, and in his youth raced for the Manx Road Club, on the Isle of Man, where he grew up.

"Even though I cycle quite a lot, the route is actually well beyond us. Last weekend I did a 30-mile ride and it wiped me out," he added.

Sponsorship forms for Henry and Paul are at libraries across the borough.