SHE admires the way he always smiles through the pain, and is proud to be his big sister.

Hampshire schoolgirl Kevita Longley is preparing to complete a sponsored cycle ride after watching her younger brother struggle to cope with a distressing condition.

Kevita, 14, was devastated when ten-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and recurring pancreatitis earlier this year.

Crohn’s causes inflammation of the lining of the gut, resulting in a range of symptoms that can include abdominal pain, extreme tiredness and diarrhoea.

The debilitating disease affects at least 115,000 across the UK, many of them children.

Ryan’s mother, Anita Bartlett, of Bitterne, Southampton, said: “He suffers from stomach pains, finds it hard to eat without being sick and is losing weight.

“Kevita was devastated when we found out that Ryan had Crohn’s.

“The two of them are very close and she has decided to turn a negative into a positive by completing a sponsored cycle ride in the New Forest on Sunday.”

Kevita, a pupil at Sholing Technology College, will start at Lepe Beach and expects to take three hours to complete the 40-mile journey.

She said: “It’s really upset me that Ryan has been so ill.

“I love my little brother to bits and want to do this ride for him because I love him so much and he is so brave.

“He always has a cute smile even when he is in pain and can’t eat. I am so proud to be his big sister.”

Kevita is hoping to raise at least £200 for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, which funds research and projects that examine the impact of the conditions.

The schoolgirl has already received several donations and messages of support after setting up her own JustGiving page.

Anita posted: “To my beautiful daughter. You are an inspiration to others. I am so proud of what you are doing for Ryan.”

Stepdad Gary Bartlett added: “I am so proud of my stepdaughter for doing this for her brother Ryan. I wish you all the luck in the world. You so deserve it.”