A FAMILY will cycle from Worcester to Lyme Regis in memory of a former Worcester Grammar School pupil.

James Milbourne died in July 2015 from cardiac arrest as a result of undiagnosed sarcoidosis, aged just 29.

Before he died, Mr Milbourne sold his business, Buddy's Baguettes in Worcester, to fund his dream trip cycling coast-to-coast across America with his friends from Worcester Grammar School.

Cousin Rob Matthews, said “As James didn’t make his cycle event we decided to organise our own cycle, ‘Tour de Lyme Regis’, in his memory to raise awareness and funds for SarcoidosisUk."

“Only one of us has cycled any long distance before and many of us haven’t been on a bike since our childhood, so it will be a challenging couple of days, especially for our dad Alan who’s 67.

"Mind you, he might show a few of us younger ones how to do it.

"Our aim is to cover the 144 miles in two days and we have spent the last six weeks training hard resulting in many aching muscles and sore … areas.”

He will be joined by Mr Milbourne's brothers Ollie and Harry Milbourne, stepdad Rob Smith, uncle Alan Matthews, and cousins Rich Baldwin, Matt Lloyd, Matthew Collins and Chris Matthews.

The group will set off on Thursday (September 21) and travel 144 miles from Oast House Cottage, Kempsey, where his mum Sue Smith lives, to Lyme Regis, where they holidayed every year.

Mum Sue Smith said: “We want to raise awareness for early diagnosis of this condition.

"Sarcoidosis is a rare disease, hard to diagnose and hence gets very little attention from the public, media and medical profession.

"As a result, SarcoidosisUK have to work very hard to access funds to continue with their research.

"Our target is £5000 and every donation will help SarcoidosisUK make a difference to peoples’ lives and hopefully stop another family suffering like ours.”

Sarcoidosis is a rare condition that causes small patches of red and swollen tissue, called granulomas, to develop in the organs of the body. It usually affects the lungs and skin.

Sarcoidosis is estimated to affect about one in every 10,000 people in the UK. There is currently no cure.

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/tourdelymeregis.

For more information on SarcoidosisUK visit www.sarcoidosisuk.org.