THREE men are to cycle and kayak from London to Paris raise money for a seven-year-old Herefordshire boy who has a rare condition.

Rhys Macdonald was diagnosed with Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) five years ago. It is a rare genetic life-limiting disease for which no effective treatment currently exists.

Symptoms include lack of balance, slurred speech, a higher susceptibility to cancer and more than normal infections.

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The AT Society helps people living with AT by providing invaluable support from dealing with the shock of the initial diagnosis through to treatment and the challenges of everyday living.

As well as providing support and advice to people with AT and their family and friends, the charity also liaise with professionals to help fund research and find treatments. 

With leaps being made in understanding rare and complex genetic conditions, there is cause for optimism that treatments and ultimately a cure are within reach. Therefore, every penny raised will help towards reaching these goals.

Hereford Times: Rhys Macdonald, who has Ataxia TelangiectasiaRhys Macdonald, who has Ataxia Telangiectasia (Image: Rhys Macdonald's family)

Rhys' father, David, who is from Shobdon and went to Wigmore High School, has therefore decided to cycle and kayak from London to Paris to raise money for the charity. 

He will be joined by his friends Shaun Middleton and Howard Smith, with the trio setting off from London on Sunday, September 3.

Using new bikes supplied by Tom Webb, of Zero Bikes, they will cycle 85 miles to Dover before kayaking across the English Channel to Calais.

They will then go back on the bikes to cycle the last 200 plus miles to Paris. 

So far, nearly £5,500 has been raised for the AT Society, which includes a generous donation of over £1,000 from Clear Storage.