Alex Braun, 30, of Water Tower View, Chester, wants to raise awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), the disease his mother Susan Braun, 61, has been suffering from for seven years.

He and friends Jody Payne, 30, of Ermine Road, Hoole and Nick Horder, 31, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, plan to cycle the 940-mile route in 10 days, covering 100 miles a day and spending up to eight hours in the saddle at a time.

Alex said: "My mother has suffered from ME for many years now. I cannot explain how much it has affected not only the life of my mum but also myself and the whole family.

"I want to raise awareness of how this illness affects people and families all around the world."

ME is a chronic neurological illness which causes a breakdown of the nervous and immune system.

Sufferers endure a number of varying symptoms which gradually weaken the patient, reducing their independence and quality of life.

Many of the most severe cases leave the patient not being able to communicate verbally, not being able to eat solids or to see to basic toileting needs alone.

Alex's mother has been bed-bound for two-and-a-half years. She is hypersensitive to light, sound and smell. She suffers swelling in her face, bouts of vertigo and constant tinnitus. Her muscles have wasted away and the use of any energy intensifies her symptoms. Her conversations are limited to 10 minutes, in whispers.

Alex said: "There is a serious lack of understanding regarding this illness. A significant proportion of the little funding available goes towards psychological treatment of the illness, not biomedical treatment, despite the illness.

"This is like treating a cancer sufferer for how the illness makes them feel rather than giving them chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

"ME needs to be recognised and it needs to become familiar, talked about before it can be researched at a level which will bring about the kind of progress in treatment like we have seen in cancer."

The NHS has issued its first guidance on how to treat ME sufferers, with the aim of redressing years of prejudice against those with chronic fatigue syndrome (the term by which ME is now often known) who were told the condition was 'all in the mind'.

To sponsor the friends visit www.justgiving.com/cycling4ME.

On the website there are also template letters people can send to their local MP, the chief medical officer, the Secretary of State for Health and the Prime Minister.