Ann Haughton has just taken part in the first stage of tests using a drug which dramatically reduced the effects of Behcet's Syndrome.

But now she is denied the treatment because it is not licensed for her condition and her symptoms – sometimes so severe she cannot get out of bed – have returned.

Now her son Andrew Douglas-Smith, 20, is seeking sponsors to raise £1,200 to fund another patient through a six- month trial like the one his mother undertook.

He is cycling from their home in Hartest to the headquarters of the Behcet's Society in Evesham in Worcestershire, and back again via Huntingdon where his family used to live.

The forensic science student who is in the first year of a degree course at Lincoln remembers his mother being in such pain at the end of a working week he used to spend weekends looking after his two younger brothers.

He says it was wonderful to see her get her life back while she was taking part in the drugs trial.

Ann, 43, has suffered from Behcet's – an incurable chronic condition where an over-active immune system causes inflammation of blood vessels – for 14 years.

She had never had a remission until she took part in trials at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, of the drug Alpha Interferon already used to treat Behcet's

in other countries including the USA.

The research is being funded by the Behcet's Society and hospital got involved because eye problems and even blindness can be caused by the illness.

Seventy people are needed for the trial. Ann was the 35th volunteer.

"Although the drug is licensed in this country for treating other diseases, it is not licensed for Behcet's which means I cannot get it on the NHS," said Ann.

"I would be more than willing to pay for it myself but if I do I understand I will be classed as aprivate patient and won't get other treatment from the health service.

"For the six months I was taking Interferon my symptoms completely disappeared," said Ann who is married to Ian and has two other children Thomas, 15 and Ben, 10. "Since I stopped they have come back."

Ann is one of only 3,000 people in the UK with Behcet's which, because it effects the blood vessels, can cause problems all over the body including severe arthritic pain and agonising mouth ulcers.

"My symptoms are mainly arthritic. There are days when I cannot get out of bed, and days when I cannot walk. All I can do then is take steroids, and I don't like taking them long-term.

"And because the blood vessels in the brain can be affected I also get cognitive problems which are sometimes so bad I cannot string a sentence together.

"It is an immensely frustrating condition. I always try to be positive about it, and not let it affect my children, but of course it does because it can be very debilitating."

When she can, Ann helps Ian run a dog sitting business from home.