A seven-year-old has used pedal power to raise £1,000 for his local hospital’s charity by biking 400km.
Oliver Moore, from Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln, initially set himself a target to complete the distance, which is just under 250 miles, in 30 days to raise £400 for Lincoln County Hospital.
He decided he’d like to raise money because he wanted to help people and settled on a cycling challenge as he enjoys being out on his bike.
Oliver rode several differing routes around Lincoln and Sleaford covering varying distances from 5km to 25km each time. It soon became a family affair with his mum and dad, Alannah and Mark, accompanying him on his rides and even his one-year-old sister joined in for a short distance.
Oliver’s last ride finished at his football club in Waddington where his teammates were cheering him on as he passed over the finishing line.
Oliver generated the money through a fundraising platform which included donations from family and friends. Oliver more than doubled his target of £400 with a grand total of £1,000.
Oliver’s mum, Alannah Moore, said: “We were having dinner one evening when Oliver told us he wanted to raise money to help people. We made suggestions of what he might like to do and he decided on biking a big distance like 400km, aiming to get £400. Then he told us he wanted to complete it in 30 days! A huge aim for a seven-year-old.
“We are so proud of him.”
Oliver said: “I wanted to do this because I enjoy bike riding and have done it since I was three years old.
“I wanted to raise money for Lincoln hospital because both me and my sister Halle were born there. I think the doctors, nurses and carers are amazing there.
“I am very proud of myself because I wanted to raise £300 to start with then I thought about changing my target to £400, so I was so happy when my mum and dad told me I had got to £1,000. Thank you to everyone who sponsored me.”
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity supports staff to deliver outstanding care to patients, their families and carers in the county’s hospitals. The money raised for and by the charity pays for the extras which can’t be provided by the NHS alone. For example, funding a sensory room at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston and providing teddy bears for babies on the neonatal units.
Ben Petts, Charity Manager at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity, said: “We were delighted to hear about Oliver’s challenge and fundraising.
“He is an absolute star and one of the youngest fundraisers we’ve ever had.
“Congratulations on beating your target Oliver and we are so grateful for the money for our charity.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Yuri Hoyda
