FAMILY and friends of a baby who died from a rare muscular condition have raised £3,000 in a mammoth cycle challenge to fund research into a cure for the rare disease which claimed his life.

Following the death of their eight-week-old son Elliot in February, Louise and Simon Granger have been campaigning to raise awareness of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1, an incurable condition that attacks muscles and nerves.

Simon was born in Strensall and is a captain in the Royal Engineers, and he and Louise had lived near York before recently moving to Warrington.

As part of their drive the couple, along with a group of 12 others completed a 170-mile three-day Way Of The Roses cycle challenge which saw Team Elliot cover routes across Lancashire and Yorkshire on the National Cycle Network including Linton-on-Ouse, York and Bridlington – stopping off along the route at Elliot’s grave at a cemetery in East Cottingwith.

Louise said: “The cycle ride was in memory of our perfect little boy Elliot. After losing Elliot we wanted to do something challenging in Elliot’s memory to help raise awareness of SMA as until Elliot was diagnosed we had never heard of it. Prior to the cycle ride we held a bag pack and collection at our local Sainsbury’s store in Warrington to promote the ride and the SMA Trust.”

She said the challenge saw the team ride through floods and driving rain before finally finishing the cycle ride in Bridlington.

The team have raised more than £3,000 and are still collecting sponsorship. To donate visit justgiving.com/TeamElliot4SMAT or alternatively donations can be sent by cheque to The SMA Trust, The SMA Trust, Compton Scorpion, Shipston on Stour CV36 4PJ.

Elliot spent his last days at Claire House Children’s Hospice on the Wirral. He died on February 4.