A young couple from Stroud have joined forces with their family in Spain to take part in the Marvel Superhero at Home challenge to raise awareness for the rare and often unheard about neurological condition ataxia.

Thomas and Samantha will undertake a ‘triathlon’ with Thomas's dad Brian to raise awareness of the condition which effects three members of their family, including Brian who lives in Spain.

Brian, along with his brother Nigel and sister Susan all suffer with ataxia.

Nigel was first diagnosed in his late teens in the 1980s, and then Brian and Susan were diagnosed.

Brian said: "At the time of diagnosis ataxia was virtually unheard of, now it's a little better but the vast majority of people have never heard of it hence the need to raise awareness."

Brian and his siblings are all from Stroud, although he now lives in Spain, while his sister Susan lives in New Zealand and his brother lives on Stamford.

Thomas and Laura, Brian's children, still live in Stroud.

The rare condition predominantly impacts mobility, co-ordination and speech.

People with ataxia are often wrongly perceived to be drunk because of their strange gait, lack of mobility and slurred speech.

Brian said:"It is a life limiting degenerative condition where from diagnosis the only certainty is that it will get worse.

"It is ageless, impacting adults and children alike, and in the UK there are only around 10,000 adults and 500 children with ataxia."

The superhero challenge means the family will have to complete a 20km distance between June 15 and July 15 that can be completed anywhere and in any way.

Brian, his son Thomas and Thomas's wife Samantha have all decided to undertake the 'triathlon' challenge between them by swimming, cycling and walking.

The challenge will raise money for Ataxia UK and the family have already exceeded their sponsorship target.

To donate visit: bit.ly/2UYrXeO