A FATHER is preparing to clock up a mammoth 1,025 miles on his bike to raise thousands of pounds for a charity close to his heart. Derek Noble, of Rookswood, Alton, is undertaking the gruelling challenge from England to Spain for the Tuberous Sclerosis Association - a charity that has supported his family since his youngest daughter Hannah was diagnosed with the rare condition at the age of six. Her parents became worried after Hannah, now 11, developed a rash on her face. She was referred to a specialist and underwent numerous tests in hospital including MRIs and an ECG, before it was confirmed that she did, in fact, have Tuberous Sclerosis (TS). TS is a multi-system disorder caused by mutations in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex genes. It affects just one in every 6,000 people but presents itself in different ways. Some sufferers develop tumours in vital organs while others have learning difficulties or behavioural problems. It is a devastating diagnosis for parents of children with TS as their future cannot be predicted. Luckily, Hannah, who attends Wootey Junior School, has so far escaped the many symptoms of the condition - which she calls her "special condition" - and leads a normal, healthy life. However her family are conscious of the need to raise awareness of and fund research into the condition, which is why her father is embarking on the cycling challenge. Mr Noble, 46, a product introduction manager for IBM, said: "Hannah thinks I'm mad for undertaking this ride! However it's important to me and the family to help raise funds for vital medical research and make life easier for the thousands of people living with TS in a world where few people understand what they are going through." The keen cyclist is teaming up with colleague Trevor Biddle, of Gillingham in Dorset, and Trevor's brother-in-law Paul Wheatley, who lives near Winchester, for the challenge. The trio are each cycling for different charities and hope to raise a combined £6,000 through their efforts. Mr Biddle is fundraising for BLISS - a charity which offers support and advice to families with premature babies - and Mr Wheatley for Leukaemia Busters - an organisation that develops new antibody-based treatments for children and adults with incurable forms of leukaemia. They will set off on August 24 from Gillingham and hope to arrive in Madrid on September 8. They plans to pedal around 70 miles a day. But Mr Noble is not fazed by the challenge ahead - having completed the London marathon twice and cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats with Mr Biddle in the 1990s. "I'm a keen cyclist anyway and also at the moment I am working in France where I don't have a car, so I have to cycle everywhere," he said. "It is just under a 10 mile round trip to work and at the weekends I am doing 30, 40, 50 and 60 mile trips - that is basically my training plan. "We know what is involved as we have done the Land's End to John O'Groats ride before. Obviously there is going to be things that come up that surprise us. We aim to ride 70 miles a day but that is not something I'm not used to." The team have launched their own sponsorship page on the justgiving.com website. With this unique system the money goes directly to the charities and if supporters are UK taxpayers, the charities will also receive a 28 per cent tax reclaim bonus automatically. So far the team has raised £1,539.08. To sponsor Derek Noble visit http://www.justgiving.com/gimad">www.justgiving.com/gimad