As if pedalling your heart out to the top of hill against almost 200 of the best isn’t tough enough, Huddersfield’s Will Boyes has an added challenge – a chronic lung disease.

The 40-year-old cyclist suffers from debilitating cystic fibrosis which causes the lungs to become clogged with thick, sticky mucus, resulting in severe infections and inflammation.

Despite this life shortening inherited condition, Will is celebrating qualifying for the British Hill Climb Championships near Sheffield this Sunday.

Hill climb events push cyclists to the extremes – competitors often need catching at the top of the hill to avoid collapse.

The British championships have been running for more than 50 years and have had professional winners such as Dan Fleeman and Stuart Dangerfield, the latter also competing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Said Will: “The hill climb races are some of the hardest events of the year but I can hold my own against other competitors.

“I’m close to some of the best cycling roads in the country, including those now made infamous by the Tour de France.

“I particularly love challenging myself on the local hills, either on my own or in hill climb races.”

Will, from Almondbury, has been performing well for his club Huddersfield Star Wheelers and has also completed a number of epic charity challenges, including 215 miles in one day and Land's End to John O’Groats for charity Team Cystic Fibrosis.

But despite his impressive fitness levels he has still been hit by the symptoms like everyone else.

“There have been times where I’ve been really ill with cystic fibrosis,” he said.

“It’s definitely not something you can ignore; I need to take a significant amount of medication on a daily basis.

“I’ve also spent a fair time in hospital over the years with chronic lung infections.

“But cycling is my passion and helps me combat cystic fibrosis.

“Many people with cystic fibrosis need daily physiotherapy to help clear their lungs.

“As long as I can cycle I don’t need any physiotherapy; it really helps me to keep my lungs clear and free of infections.”

Only half of people who have cystic fibrosis live to celebrate their 40th birthday.

People with the condition often look perfectly healthy but it’s a lifelong challenge which involves a vast daily intake of drugs, time-consuming physiotherapy and isolation from others with the condition.

It places a huge burden on those around them and the condition can critically escalate at any moment.

To find out more visit www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk