A father and his severely disabled son will attempt to cycle through Europe to raise money for a charity for people with learning disabilities.


Laurence Smith, 63, and his son Jeremy, 26, will use a bicycle with a specially-adapted wheelchair to ride through several European countries in June this year, in support of charity Norwood, in Stanmore.


The charity provides care for people with a range of needs.


Jeremy, who has learning difficulties, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and scoliosis lives in Woodcock Dell care home in Kenton, which is run by Norwood.


The pair hope to raise £6,800 for the charity. Laurence, who lives in Camberley where his son grew up, currently visits his son in Stanmore twice a week. 


The journey will take the pair through Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia and they aim to cover around 50 miles per day over three days.
Laurence, said: “I will be doing the pedalling while my son sits in the specially-adapted wheelchair up front.


“This challenge will be completely different to my 540-mile trek for Norwood along the Pyrenees in 2016.


“This time, my son will be with me and specialist medical support from Norwood will be required at all times. 


"It brings additional responsibilities and risks, such as knowing how to respond if he has a seizure, making sure he is fed and hydrated, maintaining good hygiene, and so on.”


“The fact I is want to give sign to carers about how to look after Jeremy after I am gone. I’ve seen the quality, the dedication from staff, that “look” – and that to me is worth so much. I can stand back and say ‘I trust this organisation to care for my son’.”


The pair leave for Zagreb on June 17, returning a week later. 


Donations can be made to http://goo.gl/1ZtYQD and Laurence will post news of their expedition on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/915633311949604/