A GROUP of mountain bikers took on the challenge of riding 500 miles downhill to raise money to support two boys living with a terminal muscle-wasting disease.

Kev Waring, of The Bicycle Repairman, in Peterlee, decided to put on Descend to beat Duchenne at Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park, in Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, to help Charlie and Correy Merrington, of Peterlee.

The twins were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy almost ten years ago when they were four.

Their mother Marie Merrington approached Mr Waring to see about a charity ride and he was only to happy to help.

About 25 riders took part yesterday and the funds will be split between Muscular Dystrophy UK and the boys who would like to visit the Harry Potter Studios and the Lego store in London.