Portsmouth News

Evan, 9, gears up for cycle challenge

- By BELINDA DICKINS

A YOUNG cyclist is pedalling away in preparatio­n for a mammoth indoor cycling challenge for Children in Need.

Keen fundraiser Evan Mitchell, nine, is raising hundreds of pounds for the well-known charity by taking on a 74km cycle which will see him climb more than 1,333ft in under three hours on November 1.

This kind gesture does not come as a surprise to Evan’s parents, as he has been raising funds for Children in Need for four years through various cycling challenges.

This tough task comes as the latest installmen­t of the Bedhampton youngster’s annual efforts for Children in Need, and it is his biggest challenge yet.

Evan, who has gained some well-deserved recognitio­n on the charity’s website, said: ‘I love raising money for Children in Need as it’s always fun and you’re also getting to help lots of people at the same time.

‘I chose a really long route to do with lots of climbing because I wanted to do something really big as I was hoping I could raise more money by doing something that was a huge challenge for me.’

More than six weeks of training have led to

Evan taking on cycling time trials with his bike-mad dad Greg and his friends, racing at an adult level.

Mum Amy said:

‘He had seen on the news how the lack of social care because of everything being shut down was affecting people. He’s quite sensitive so he took it on board and thought he needed to do something to help.

‘He raises money for Children in Need every

year but he’s really upped his game this year. He’s taking his training really seriously and he’s really gone for it.

Evan started with a target of £100 but very quickly beat that and is currently on more than £300, with hopes to raise as much as he can through the challenge.

Visit justgiving. com/fundraisin­g/ amy-mitchell26 to donate towards Evan’s fundraisin­g.

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 ??  ?? IN TRAINING Evan Mitchell, 9 from Bedhampton, is taking on an epic cycle for Children in Need
IN TRAINING Evan Mitchell, 9 from Bedhampton, is taking on an epic cycle for Children in Need
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