POLIO sufferer Rashmi Barker is gearing up for a 50-mile journey on her hand-powered bike.

The Darwen resident, whose mobility is severely limited by the condition, was recently able to achieve a life-long dream of riding a bike, when she bought a device specially designed for riders with little or no leg movement.

And now she is set to take part in the World Tour of Anglesey in May, to raise money for a disability cycling charity.

The event, which is organised by Empowered People, will be held from May 14 to 17 and participants will be fully supported during the ride.

The 50-year-old, who works as an enrichment coordinator at Colne Park High School, said: “I was a bit worried about agreeing to do it as it’s very difficult to go up hills on my bike. But I’ve been lent a battery-assisted version which will help me on the inclines, which is pretty awesome.

“It doesn’t matter if I only do a little bit, as they’ve said the point is to be in it and part of a big event.

“I’d always wanted to ride a bike and now I go round Witton Park with my dog Lassie and it’s brilliant.”

Rashmi, who lives with her husband Mark in Lynwood Close, was born in Tanzania and contracted polio when she was just 18 months old, after an outbreak in the city where she lived.

She added: “A lot of children died and I was one of the lucky ones because my uncle was a doctor. We were able to move to India and they got me into a hospital.”

Although medics were able to save her, the condition had spread up to her hips and severely reduced her mobility, meaning she has to wear a full length metal caliper on her left leg.

Rashmi has been training at Darwen Leisure Centre, where she said staff ‘have been amazing as they’ve said I can train there for free and given me a personal trainer who I see once a fortnight’.

You can donate money via the charity’s website, empoweredpeople.co.uk, but email rbarker@park-high.co.uk to tell her about the donation.