North Devon mum, Mel Lewis and her Brother Mike are taking up the Devizes to Westminster Canoe race challenge to raise money for the Evelina Childrens Hospital in London and the Poppy Class Area Resource Base in Bude.

Over the Easter break 6th - 9th April 2012, Mel and Mike along with hundreds of other kayakers and canoeists will pit their skill, physical and mental stamina and determination against one of the toughest endurance events in the world – the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon. The 125-mile course places the highest demands on individuals, boats and support crews. It remains one of the toughest challenges in amateur sport.

Why?, Well, Mel's Two youngest children Harlum and Tahlia-Annikki have Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), its a group of rare, inherited degenerative neurological disorders. Their primary symptoms are progressive spasticity and weakness of the leg and hip muscles. The type of HSP that Harlum and Tahlia have is classified as complicated because they have a range of other problems as well.

HSP for them mimics Cerebral Palsy and up until recently that was their diagnosis. They receive specialist care and treatment from the Evelina Childrens Hospital in London where they see Dr Lin who specialises in complicated and rare movement disorders.

As a result of HSP Harlum finds learning very challenging and although he is being taught in a mainstream school with support he's now needing more specialist education and he hopes to be moving schools to the poppy class Area Resource Base very soon.

For details of how to sponsor them please visit their JustGiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/Mel-and-Mike-DW-Challenge or pop in to Zuma Jays surf shop in Bude.