Bruised and sore, cycling Sarah is heroine

Charity: 15-year-old’s 200-mile fundraiser

A father and daughter team has raised more than £400 for a north-east charity after completing an epic bike ride.

Paul Jennings and his daughter Sarah cycled 200 miles from Skye Bridge to Fraserburgh to offer help to a children’s respite charity.

And last night, Mr Jennings praised his 15-yearold daughter for having the determination to complete the task and raise £450 for Charlie House.

He said: “The first two days, it poured down with rain. At Garve, my daughter had an accident on the level crossing and fell into the main road. There was a sign that said ‘cyclists dismount’, but it can’t be seen until you are on the level crossing.

“I’m glad to say she was not hurt too badly – there was grit in her hands and a grazed chin – but if the accident had happened a few seconds earlier, her head would have been under a car.”

Undaunted, the youngster picked herself back up and continued on her journey through Buncrew, Culloden, Nairn, Kinloss, Lossiemouth and Portsoy.

Now, the money she helped raise will go towards the efforts of Charlie House to support children with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions.

Mr Jennings added: “I want to thank all those who gave to this great charity and to my daughter who persevered with sore hands and bruises – she is the real hero.”

Charlie House is based in Aberdeen and aims to provide vital services to infants and children up to the age of 18. It was formed in 2010 by a group of north-east parents who were experiencing difficulty accessing appropriate planned respite care.

UNDAUNTED: Despite pouring rain and a painful incident at a level crossing, Sarah Jennings and father Paul raised £450 for Charlie House