The young cyclists at the start of their ride from La Frégate to St Aubin and back

TEN schoolchildren raised £480 for Sport Relief when they organised a charity cycle ride last Sunday.

The group, aged between six and nine, cycled six miles from La Frégate to St Aubin and back in the event organised by nine-year-olds Erin Hopwood and Beth Sculthorp, who both go to d’Auvergne School. They signed up six schoolfriends – Izzy Marsh, George Harrison, Clara Townsin, Holly Perchard, Kiona Townsin and Natasha Polak – and Natasha asked her brother Cameron and sister Elissa from JCG Prep to join them.

Erin’s father, Chris, said: ‘The weather was fantastic for the event. Beth and Erin took it upon themselves to organise it, without any help from parents, and they also arranged for the sponsorship forms and the route.

‘They have done things to raise money for Comic Relief, but this was the first time
they had done something for Sport Relief.’

Erin said that she and Beth wanted to get involved after they saw a programme about the BBC charity. ‘I talked to my dad about it and we thought it would be a good idea to do the cycle ride,’ she said. ‘It makes me proud that we raised the money and we all really enjoyed the day.’

Mr Hopwood said that the girls had so much fun that they were already thinking about repeating the charity ride next year. ‘There has been a real buzz about them,’ he added.

Four parents joined the girls for the cycle, stopping for a picnic at St Aubin, and ensured they were all complying with the law that will soon require all children to wear helmets. ‘It was not even questioned,’ Mr Hopwood said. ‘It’s accepted that our children wear helmets.’