A professional photographer is cycling to Belgium for a cause close to his heart.

Martin Wackenier will be taking on the mammoth 200-mile round trip to Ypres to raise money for Parkinson’s UK.

He wanted to take on the challenge for the charity having seen friends of his deal with the effects of the disease.

The 43-year-old also has a close connection to Ypres, which is twinned with Sittingbourne, as his mum Rosemary Ann Woodhouse met his Belgian dad Luc Wackenier there on a twinning trip.

Now, the Kemsley resident is planning to cycle there and back, starting next Friday, in the hopes of raising £3,000.

He said: “I’ve got friends who have Parkinson’s and I felt I needed to do something for it.

“It’s a disease which has had a real impact on me."- Martin Wackenier

“I also watched a TV programme on it which really affected me and giving the charity more money can help them do more research.”

He will take on the challenge alone and has a welcoming party the other end in Ypres, in a former pub which belonged to his family for 150 years before being converted into an insurance company.

Martin, who runs devine-timesphotography.com, added: “I’ve cycled 1,700 miles since August, did an Oxford to London challenge last November and have lost four stone.”

Mr Wackenier was born in Belgium and moved to England in 1984.

Martin, a singer in the Sittingbourne rock band Full Circle, said: “My parents were the very first town-twinning marriage.

“They met at the very first twinning trips between the towns in 1967.

“I believe my dad came over with the first party from Ypres and then mum went to the return trip the following year.”

Leaving from the Ypres Tavern in Sittingbourne, he will arrive the same day and hopes to spend the weekend in the city before returning to the UK on the Sunday.

He added: “It would be nice to raise £3,000, to add to the £2,000 I’ve already raised.”

To donate to his efforts, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Martin-Wackenier