THE parents of a five-year-old girl with a rare medical condition are aiming to raise thousands of pounds for the Ronald McDonald House charity as a special ‘thank-you’.

Penny Leake, from Stag-hills, in Newchurch, Ross-endale, has undergone four major operations and hund-reds of hospital appoint-ments for her condition, Sotos syndrome – which means her bones grow too fast.

She is currently in traction to help correct the double curve in her spine, and has been in hospital for three months.

Now dad Paddy Leake has signed up for a 212-mile bike ride from Manchester to Birmingham, and back, to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House charity who have provided accomm-odation at Manchester Child- ren’s Hospital during their daughter’s prolonged stay.

Sotos syndrome, also known as cerebral gigantism, is a rare genetic disorder, only affecting around one in 14,000 people.

Children with the syndrome suffer from excessive phy-sical growth, and are often taller, heavier, and have larger heads than children of their age.

Signs of the disorder incl-ude a disproportionately large head, and large hands and feet.

Although she is only five, Penny is the size of an eight-year-old and wears age eight to nine clothing.

Paddy, 38, said: “Me and a team of my close friends are doing this cycle ride. It will be a tough challenge, but we all firmly believe in what this charity stands for.”

The self-employed joiner will begin the two-day chall-enge on October 12.

Penny has been in, and out, of hospital since birth. She first had major surgery on her head when she was just 18 months old. Between the ages of two and four, she had to wear a pot jacket to reduce the curve of her spine.

She is currently in traction before doctors reinsert metal rods into her spine next month.

Paddy’s fiancee, Wendy, has been staying at the hosp-ital with Penny since July.

Wendy, 35, who runs Wendy Nicola cleaning services, in Waterfoot, said: “Being able to stay at the House has made a massive difference.This is the longest hospital stay she has had, and it would have been impossible to have commuted every day.”

Paddy said: “The House really makes things a lot easier for us as a family. It has made life a little less stressful, and has given us a bit of normality and rest away from being stuck in the hospital day and night.”

He aims to raise £5,000, This will help to buy a halo traction chair for the hosp-ital, with cash also going to the House charity.