FRIENDS of a man in his twenties who has Huntington’s Disease plan to run nearly 300 miles over six days to show they are right behind him.

Matt Saines, 27, from Colchester, was diagnosed with the degenerative illness last year.

It is an incurable, hereditary illness caused by a faulty gene which affects the body’s nervous system and impacts upon a person’s movement, learning, thinking and emotions.

Six friends of Matt, some of whom have known him since the age of five, have pledged to complete a 275-mile relay run from their home town of Colchester to Newcastle. They want to raise awareness of the disease and cash for the Huntington’s Disease Association.

Jack Simpson, 27, and the run’s primary organiser, has known Matt since they attended Home Farm Primary School together.

The lads also went to Philip Morant School and Colchester Sixth Form College.

He said: “Matt’s diagnosis prompted us to think about ways we could help, inevitably ending up discussing fundraising ideas.

“We settled on a 275-mile relay run, from Matt’s hometown of Colchester, to Matt’s ‘spiritual home’ of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he went to university and home to his beloved Newcastle United.

“Our run, spread across six days starting on September 9 and ending on September 14 at St James’ Park in Newcastle city centre, will have us running on some busy roads, through several counties for almost every daylight hour.”

As well as Jack, the team comprises of Chris Hopkins, 26, Matt Desborough, 26, Ryan Everitt, 26, Ben Jewers, 27 and Sam Nicole, 27, who all come from Colchester or the surrounding area and have met Matt at school or college.

Jack added: “Matt is dealing with it really well. It is a tough thing to deal with but Matt is going for consultations in London and coping well.

"He has a strong support network from family and friends.”

Matt is joining the team, who will all be running every day, via its support van.

Jack added: “We will have completed 270 of the miles by the end of Friday and will be completing the final five miles as a group run on the Saturday, which anyone is welcome to join us for.

“We’re all looking forward to the run, and training is in full swing.

“We’re really pleased that Matt will be joining us on the trip, and we’re really proud to be raising money for such a worthwhile charity that have already been a huge help to Matt and his family and friends.”

To support the friends, go to virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Run4Hun.