WHEN Nick Woodford's dad died of motor neurone disease, he was devastated.

But when his step-mum was also diagnosed eight years later, he could not believe the disease had struck his family twice.

Now Nick and his family have completed a charity bike ride to commemorate their loved ones and raise funds for research into the disease.

Nick, 46, cycled from his home in Long Eaton to Skegness in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

"It was fabulous," he said. "I was expecting it to take a lot longer but it took just over eight hours.

"It was my daughter Sarah's idea because my dad had always been very proud that he had managed to do the same ride to Skegness as a boy from his then home in Beeston."

Nick completed the ride earlier this month with his wife Jill, 45, daughter Sarah, 15, and son Sam, 14.

Sarah, who is a pupil at Trent College in Long Eaton, said: "I enjoyed most of it but there were some bits that were really hard.

"My grandpa used to do the ride – he used to tell me about it and I never really believed him!

"I'm really proud now – I'm glad we did it."

Along with other friends and members of Notts School of Gymnastics, they have raised more than £1,000 for MNDA.

Nick's dad Roy died of motor neurone disease in 2000 and his step-mum Julie died last October.

"The consultant said he had never known a man and wife to both get it," said Nick. "It's very unusual. We were very shocked really."

Motor neurone disease is fatal, as nerve cells gradually die and stop the muscles from working.

The cause is unknown and there is no cure.

"For my family, it has affected us all," said Nick. "It affected Sarah the most. She still gets upset now. MNDA provide lots of support for people and families of people who have got the disease.

"We really felt we wanted to do something. We felt it was a case of doing our bit and raising some money for them."

Joining the Woodfords in the charity bike ride were Brian, Helen and Joe Linnington, Holly Rainford, Kevin Holloway, Phil Keynes, and Hamish and Michele Carter.

To make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/woodysbikeride.

For more information about motor neurone disease go to www.mndassociation.org.

samantha.hughes@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk