A family friend is preparing to cycle 1,400 kilometres in five days to help charities close to the hearts of two Otley boys.

Otley Cycle Club member Ian Kellar is aiming to ride from London to Edinburgh and back between Sunday, July 28 and Friday August 2.

The University of Leeds psychology lecturer was inspired to take up the challenge due to his links with five-year-old Harry Buckley and Sam Brown, four, who are friends with his son, Seth.

Both pupils at The Whartons Primary School, Harry is terminally ill with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer, while Sam has a very rare genetic condition, Morquio Syndrome.

Ian, 40, who is being sponsored by Otley firm Chevin Cycles and Trek UK, is hoping to raise as much money as he can for support and research charities the Neuroblastoma Society and the MPS Society.

The Virgin Money Giving website that’s been set up for the ride by him, Sam’s mum, Katy, and Harry’s mum, Sarah, has already had more than £1,300 pledged, including Gift Aid.

Their web page says: “Harry wants to know how he got Neuroblastoma cancer and to answer this, research is needed.

“Not enough research is carried out into investigating this disease and thus understanding it.

“Please donate what you can, so that more information, help and support is available to people affected by MPS and Neuroblastoma cancer. “ Harry was diagnosed with the condition in 2011 and had to undergo a long operation and months of tough treatment before his parents, Paul and Sarah, were told earlier this year that the disease had relapsed and was incurable.

They have spent the last three months trying to create as many fun experiences as possible for him and his three year old brother, Callum.

Sam’s condition is a type of Mucopolysaccharidosis, or MPS, a group of metabolic diseases that cause progressive and incurable physical, and often mental, disabilities.

With Sam it just affects his growth and physical ability. He is currently spending a day a week at Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he is on a clinical trial of treatment, and is wearing a support for the next few months to allow his neck to heal following major surgery.

The MPS Society is the only UK charity that provides professional support to people affected by any of the 24 MPS conditions or related diseases, and also funds research and awareness-raising initiatives.

To sponsor Ian, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/IanLondonEdinburghLondon1400km.