A COUPLE from Wotton-under-Edge will take on a bike ride and triathlon together to help raise funds to improve their disabled son’s quality of life.

Matt and Hayley Palmer of Wotton-under-Edge will cycle 50km of steep terrain through the Cotswolds next month before tackling their first triathlon in June.

The pair are using the events to raise money for specialist equipment for their three-year-old son Kobe, who suffers from a rare brain disorder that significantly limits his movement.

Agenesis of the corpus callosum is a complete or partial absence of the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

As a result of the condition, Kobe is unable to do many things independently and cannot walk. His parents want to use the money they raise to purchase a car seat and trailer which would allow him to join his family on bike rides.

Matt and Hayley will take on the Heaven of the South charitable bike ride on May 14 and go on to participate in Wotton Triathlon the following month.

Despite the triathlon involving a 400 metre swim, 12 mile cycle and three mile run, it’s Heaven of the South that the couple find the most daunting.

Matt, 38, said: “I’ve done it before and it’s absolutely horrendous.

“My friend did it the first year and by the time he made it to the end at Kingswood he was unable to ride back. He had to be picked up.”

Hayley, 32, added: “We might not be able to move at the end of it.”

The swimming element of the triathlon has also given Haley some cause for concern.

“I think I’m worried about the swimming part the most - I’m not very good at swimming.”

The couple will be spurred on by their goal of acquiring the items for Kobe, which amount to a total value of £3,800. But thanks to donations from Dursley Lions Club, Dursley Inner Wheel, Edith Strain (Nursing), aunties and uncles, and fundraising by Matt’s cousin Lisa Clark, they now have around £2,600 to reach their target.

"Kobe is unable to come out with us on bike rides at the moment so it would be great to get the trailer so that we can go out together as a whole family," said Hayley.

If you would like to help Matt and Hayley reach their target for Kobe visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com:443/Kobe03-palmer