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Gruelling Bike Ride Pays Off For Fundraising Group

Thunderstorms, punctures, hills and knee injuries didn’t deter a group of sixth formers from completing a 113-mile charity bike ride.

The group - Luke Pomfrett, Aaron Poulter, Connor Beardsley, Ahmed Abdulsamad, Sam Barker, Lewis Robinson and a former KSA student - rode to Wisbech and back in aid of Niamh's Next Step appeal. The appeal was set up in aid of five-year-old Niamh Curry, of Wellingborough, who is fighting a rare cancer. Her family needs to raise £450,000 so she can go to America for treatment not available in the UK and Luke, who is Head Boy, organised the bike ride after hearing of the appeal.

He said it proved to a challenge for the group, especially as most of them do not cycle regularly. After setting off on Friday morning, it took them about eight hours to reach Wisbech where they camped overnight before heading home on Saturday.  

Luke said: "Probably the hardest part was cycling on the roads in the Fens - it felt like they were never-ending and that's when the thunderstorm hit.

"We were so happy to reach the campsite - Aaron and Ahmed got straight into their sleeping bags at 5pm. We didn't get much sleep because there were seven of us in a five-man tent.

"I found it quite tough because I got shin splints and about half a mile into the return journey, my leg started to give way. Then my knee popped out and I had to try to jolt it back in.

"After we got past Oundle, we started to pick ourselves up because we knew we were nearly home. My dad's partner was driving alongside us, handing out bottles of Lucozade, which helped."

The group's efforts have so far raised more than £250, with money still coming in.

Luke said: "I think we'd all say it was worth it because even if we'd only raised £50, it's something for the charity. But I don't think I'll be getting on a bike again for a long time."

To sponsor the group visit www.justgiving.com/KET2WIS100. For more details on Niamh's Next Step appeal visit www.niamhsnextstep.com.