THE family and friends of a boy who was born with congenital heart disease will cycle from Land’s End to Bristol this week to raise money for the hospital that saved his life.

Iwan Hughes, 11, from Dole, near Aberystwyth, was born with Tetralogy of Fallot with Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome, a condition which affects 1 in 3,600 babies.

When he was just nine months old he had to have open heart surgery and last year he had to have valve surgery.

On Thursday, Iwan’s mum Leanne, 38; Iwan’s uncle Andrew; cousin Caryl Hughes, family friends Helen and Pete Jenkins and Mrs Simpson, a classroom assistant at Ysgol Rhydypennau school, will start a 240-mile cycle ride for The Grand Appeal at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Iwan’s dad Aled, and siblings Megan, Tomos and Wil will be cheering the group on.

The group must raise £1,000 each to take part in the event, and have been working hard to raise the money as well as prepare for the cycle ride.

“Training is going well,” said Leanne.

“Three of us - Andrew, Caryl and myself - took part in the Tregaron Caron Sportive in July to get some practice in.

“We are all nervously looking forward to getting down to Land’s End and starting the ride!”

The money raised from the ride will go to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where Iwan received life-saving treatment.

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