A youngster from Stone has completed a mammoth cycling challenge - pedalling 134 miles in six days and raising cash for the Dona Louise Children’s Hospice.
Six-year-old Edward Dyster, rode with his parents Emma and Steve for up to 24 miles a day along a specially-prepared route from Northampton to Tower Bridge in London.
The route avoided traffic and used 100 miles of the National Cycle Network.
Edward decided to take on the challenge after learning about the work of the hospice at school and raised more than £1,400 with donations coming from as far afield as Arizona, USA and Alessi, Finland.
As well as smashing his fund-raising target, Edward has inspired other children to follow in his footsteps, including Sam Grattan who along with his own parent joined the Dysters on the first leg of the ride and is now planning his own challenges to raise money for the trust.
Edward said that the journey had been harder than he had expected, but the family had kept their spirits up playing games, singing songs and telling jokes to each other.
Mrs Dyster said the challenge had brought them closer as a family and even taught them new and better ways to communicate.
“Life is too busy generally,” she said.
“It’s easy for parents to stick their children in front of a TV or a games console.”
Edward is already planning his next challenge, cycling from Tower Bridge to Paris - all in the name of charity.
