Disabled father has benefits cut after agonising charity bike ride for cancer-stricken sons

It took Danny Johnson-Green four days to finish the 200-mile trip to raise funds for a cancer charity.

But when the authorities were alerted to his heroic story in the local newspaper they did not take a charitable view of his fundraising efforts, and have decreed that if he is able to ride a bike, he is able to work.

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Mr Johnson-Green embarked on the charity trek from Leicester to Wembley in March last year to raise awareness of his children's condition and collected some £1,300 in donations for charity Clic Sargent.

His two-year-old sons, Terry and James, were diagnosed with leukaemia with 24 hours of each other in November 2006.

They are now in remission, but face two years further treatment for the disease.

However, Mr Johnson-Green was born with hemiplegia, a muscular condition that has left the 25-year-old paralysed down one side his body.

It leaves him unable to carry out simple tasks such as getting out of the bath or fastening his shoes without discomfort.

As a result, the charity trip took Mr Johnson-Green four days as he was forced to stop every four miles for a rest.

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Soon after the bike ride the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) called him in for an interview.

He claims officials said there was nothing wrong with him, and has now lost his £78 a week disability living allowance, which went towards an adapted car.

The father-of-two from Leicester now plans to appeal against the DWPs decision, after they demanded he repays £2,600 of benefits.

Speaking yesterday, he said: "Every mile was a struggle. But I cycled the ride purely on adrenalin, basically I was doing it for my boys and that was what mattered."

Mr Johnson-Green believes he was targeted after somebody reported him via the benefits fraud hotline.

"I was absolutely devastated. Not only were they taking money away that I need but they were taking away a car that was adapted to my needs. The ride was very important," he said

"It was about raising awareness of leukaemia and money.

"I want them (DWP) to realise that they can't go around doing this to people."

He added that although he had a medical assessment to qualify for disability benefit, he did not have one before the money was withdrawn.

Asked to comment on his case, a DWP spokeswoman said: "We cannot comment on individual cases. If people disagree with a decision on their benefits entitlement they have a right of appeal."