Granddad John Foley is preparing to bare all and cycle naked through London to raise awareness of a disability his three-year-old granddaughter suffers from.

Mr Foley, 57, of Chaveywell Court, Calne, will cycle six miles through the centre of the capital wearing nothing but his heart on his sleeve as he takes part in the World Naked Bike Ride to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

He said: “The ride is actually a protest against oil dependency but I have hijacked it for my own cause.

“I have tried other ways to raise money - I have even sat in pubs with a big poster - but have only managed to raise £120 so far.

“I am hoping that the old adage that nudity sells is true, I know that was coined for pretty women but I hope the principle holds true.”

Mr Foley’s three-year-old granddaughter Jasmine, who lives in London, was diagnosed with congenital myotonic dystrophy, a condition which causes the gradual weakening and wasting of muscles, shortly after she was born.

“They first noticed it when she had trouble sucking when she was a baby,” Mr Foley said. “And luckily a doctor was on the ball and spotted it.

“She was late walking too - she can run around now but you can see she is not running normally because it affects her muscles.

“She is just starting to talk but she signs or takes my hand and shows me what she wants.

“She is certainly making herself heard and she is a lovely little girl.”

Mr Foley admits he feels apprehensive about riding through London in broad daylight in the nude, especially as he does not even have a bike to train on.

“I will be borrowing my daughter’s bike on the day,” he said. “But I have been doing a fair bit of walking to get my fitness up.

“My daughter took part in it last year, and the year before when I was with my girlfriend I got as far as getting undressed before I chickened out.

“I have to do it this year - I have a real cause now.”

Although participants are not allowed to carry collection buckets while cycling, Mr Foley hopes to continue to raise awareness of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign by handing out leaflets during the ride.

Taking place over the weekend of the June 13 and 14, there will also be naked riders cycling through the streets of Brighton, Manchester, York and Southampton, as well as other cities around the world.

To sponsor Mr Foley or to find out more about the challenge visit his we site via the link on the right.