Cyclist riding for charity before leg amputation

Tom Staniford is raising money for four charities

A cyclist from Exeter has planned a final ride to raise money for charity before voluntarily having both legs amputated.

Tom Staniford said the ride at 10:00 (BST) on Sunday would raise money for four charities - Devon Air Ambulance, Wheels for Wellbeing, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature and the Devon and Exeter Institution.

He has MDT syndrome, a rare genetic condition, which he said limited his "mobility and my ability to be active".

His first operation is scheduled for 21 May to remove his right leg and then his left leg is due to be amputated at a later date.

He said he had always enjoyed riding a bike and when he was younger enjoyed distance running but as his condition progressed running became painful.

Mr Staniford said: "Because I'm not putting weight on my feet and because I'm not using my feet the bone density is dropping, which means that now the bones are starting to crumble and that is poses an increasingly large infection risk.

"To avoid that infection risk and also to try and give me a bit of mobility and better quality of life we've gone for the elective double leg amputation below the knee."

In 2005 Mr Staniford was involved in an accident and was supported by Devon's Air Ambulance, which was why he chose to raise money for them.

'Mark the occasion'

He said: "Because I've used my legs so heavily over the years and had such great adventures and great fun with them, it seemed like a shame to just kind of let it go without something to mark the occasion and I thought... might as well try and raise some money for charity at the same time."

Mr Staniford said the plan for the cycle was very informal and he hoped to get as many people involved as possible.

He said the ride would start at Exeter Quayside and cycle to the bike path down to the Double Locks pub and potentially further before returning to Exeter Quay.