A SEVEN-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer will be leading a charity bike ride from Castle Drogo on March 17, ahead of his family's challenge to cycle from John O Groats to Lands End in the summer.

Bow Cann and his three siblings from Hittisleigh will all be taking part in the ride to mark Cystic Fibrosis Week, which will offer two 15 mile routes — one off-road and one on-road.

Bow's mum Sam Cann has organised the ride, starting at 11am, which will take in several of Devon's rural villages.

The family will travel the length of the UK on bikes in July to raise money for cystic fibrosis and awareness of this incurable lung disease.

Bow's story was featured in the Times in December, when he received a hand with fundraising from the town's Jag Communications shop after it ran a competition.

The youngster, who has to take pills with everything he eats and has physiotherapy twice a day to keep his lungs clear, is mad-keen on cycling and was just two years old when the family went on their first cycling holiday.

Since then, cycling has become second nature to Bow, who will be the youngest person ever to tackle the gruelling challenge to cycle from John O' Groats.

Mrs Cann said, despite his disease, her son was fitter than most children and he also had a determination to achieve amazing things.

'He's the sort of child who will end up in Outer Mongolia climbing a rockface,' she said. 'He is an inspiration and so full of energy.'

Anyone who wishes to take part in the charity bike ride from Castle Drogo should contact Mrs Cann on 07780 610077.

The fee to participate, which includes refreshments, is £7.50 for adults and £4.50 for children with special discounts for families. All the money will go towards cystic fibrosis research.

The closing date for entries is March 11.