The mother and grandfather of a seriously ill ten-year-old boy are to trek along the Great Wall of China to raise funds to help research into his condition.

Lesley Downs, 36, plans to make the trip with her father Malcolm Osborne in October to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign which works with sufferers, their families and carries out research.

The pair need to raise almost £6,000 to take part in the expedition.

Mrs Downs' son Matthew, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - which severely limits the life expectancy of sufferers - when he was just five years old.

The rare muscle wasting disease is genetically inherited and affects about 100 boys in the UK every year.

Mathew's case is further complicated because he is diabetic.

Mrs Downs said: "I don't usually come forward to do public campaigns but this is such an important cause and the charity doesn't have enough funding.

"We don't want anybody to go through what Matthew has to go through and this money could be used to find a cure or a treatment."

Matthew will be staying at home with his dad, 39-year-old Graham Osborne and his 18-month-old brother Ciaran and sister Megan, three.

Mrs Downs said: "A lot of people have said that we won't do it because they think I have a lot on, but we will".

Mrs Downs said they were hoping local companies would donate travel insurance, equipment, train tickets to London and accommodation. Matthew is now in a wheelchair but he man- ages to spend a lot of time playing with his grandfather.

Mr Osborne, 58, of Otley, said it was unlikely the research would benefit Matthew but could help other children like him in the future.

"We want to raise as much money as we can for the charity but we know it is going to a hard graft," he said. "They have helped my daughter a lot and it is just our way of saying thank you and at the same time helping somebody who is in our position.

"If the money that we raise might just find a cure or a hope other families would not have to go through what we are going through because it is very hard.

"To see Matthew's condition deteriorate in the last three years, it is heartbreaking. From seeing him run around to not even being able to stand up, it is very hard."

Anyone wanting to donate to the appeal should call Malcolm Osborne on (01943) 468592 or send a cheque made out to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to 11 Caxton Road, Otley, LS21 3LL.