DAD Lee Coe is to get on his bike to help raise funds for Devizes Opportunity Centre to thank it for helping his two sons.

Mr Coe, 32, and his brother Danny, 30, are to cycle from the opportunity centre in Belle Vue Road, Devizes to Chessington, Surrey, where they grew up.

Mr Coe and his wife Terrie-Anne, 32, first became involved with the centre two years ago when their elder son Scott was referred by a pediatrician as he was nearly three and still not talking.

Scott, now five, was later diagnosed with autism and Asperger’s, but thanks to the help he received at the centre he talks fluently and has settled into a special unit at Manor Primary School, Melksham.

His younger brother Kaiden, 20 months, who shows some similar traits but is yet to be diagnosed, started at the nursery just a month ago.

Mrs Coe, who also has a daughter Jasmine, three, said: “The opportunity centre has been wonderful to us and helped us as a family with many things as well as really caring for the boys.

“My husband just wanted to do something to say thank you. He is a keen fitness fan and wants to become a personal trainer so the cycle ride seemed like a good idea.”

The two men will leave the opportunity centre in the morning on Sunday, May 25, and hope to cover the 90 miles to Chessington by the evening.

Mr Coe of Linnet Lane, Melksham, who works at Leekes, cycles to work every day and is confident he can complete the ride.

His wife said: “Both the boys can be a handful as they are really active and not always aware of danger, but the centre has really helped them. Last year, before Scott started at the Manor in November, he had to leave his mainstream nursery because of an incident but the centre found him extra sessions, which helped me to cope.

“He is doing really well at school now and is a very strong reader and good at maths. I would never have thought it would have been possible two years ago.”

Mr Coe is to set up a Virgin giving account so people can sponsor him. Information will go on the opportunity centre’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Devizes OpportunityCentre?fref=ts