They have completed a London to Amsterdam bike ride and three marathons since losing their sight to a rare genetic condition.

But twin brothers Michael and Daniel Smith are not stopping there and have set themselves another challenge to take on the Three Peaks Challenge this August.

Michael and Daniel, both 21, of Cedar Avenue, East Barnet, suffered Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy three years ago, a rare condition that caused the pair to go blind within a year of each other.

Despite losing their sight, the inspirational siblings have completed marathons in Dublin, London and Amsterdam and gained national attention last year when they cycled to Amsterdam.

And the brothers, who describe themselves as “inseparable”, say they want to make this next challenge, which they completed once before in 2008, the “pinnacle” of their rehabilitation. 

Michael said: “The main reason we’re doing it is to inspire other visually impaired people.”

Daniel added: “It’s an awareness-raising exercise for the charity. We’ve met so many visually impaired people and they don’t have access to the help we’ve had so it is important to raise some money and awareness.”

Michael and Daniel aim to raise £3,000 for charity Blind in Business which aims to help visually impaired people into employment. 

Joining the brothers for the challenge will be former Royal Navy officer Alan Lock, whose career came to an end when he developed macular degeneration, an incurable eye condition, in 2003.

He achieved a Guinness World Record in 2008 when he became the first visually impaired person to sail across the Atlantic. Friends from university will also join the brothers to help guide them during the trek.

Michael, who is currently studying Geography at King’s College, London and Daniel, who reads aerospace engineering at Bristol, have continued their studies alongside their rehabilitation.

Daniel said: “It’s been a very difficult three years, but we’re looking forward to taking on this next big hurdle.”