Shuttle inspires young cyclist

5:00pm Monday 30th June 2008

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A CYCLE-mad 10-year-old from Abberley was in top gear when he pedalled a massive 205 miles for charity – more than doubling his own target.

Thomas Briggs was inspired to get on his bike for a marathon charity trek after reading about other fund-raising challenges in the Shuttle/Times & News.

He and his dad David cycled on their tandem to and from the Black Mountains in Herefordshire where they were looking after a friend’s smallholding for the half-term holiday, a total of 97 miles and Thomas completed another 108 miles during the week on his own bicycle.

“It’s very hilly around there, but he just kept going – he was amazing really,” said Mr Briggs, himself a seasoned cyclist.

Thomas’s original target had been to cycle 100 miles to raise £100 – and it was his idea to give the money to the UNICEF Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Children’s Appeal to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

Mr Briggs added: “The whole thing was entirely his own idea. I think the Shuttle was a big influence because there’s often stories about people doing these sort of things.”

Thomas, of The Common, is busy collecting sponsorship money from family, friends and teachers and school pals at Great Witley CE Primary School and hopes to raise up to £200.