TEACHING staff at a school are coming together to raise funds for a special “Running Bike” to enable a student with cerebral palsy join his friends playing outside.

 

The staff at Michael Syddall CE Primary School, in Catterick Village, are hoping to raise as much money as possible to purchase a specially-made bicycle for nine-year-old Fin Booth.

 

Because of his condition the youngsters is unable to walk without crutches or a walking frame, but teaching assistant Brenda Illingworth said the sociable pupil loves joining in with school activities and his friends.

 

The bikes are known as “road runners” or “race runners” and have to be specially assembled to enable Fin to sit on the seat with his feet on the floor, so he can propel himself along, as well as rest forward on the bike, which will support his weight.

 

As well as enabling him to play outside with his friends in Catterick, the bike will also help him remain active.

 

The school and Fin’s mother have been told the specially made bike will cost £3,000 - so now the teachers have stepped forward with their own fund-raising initiatives.

 

Teaching assistant Brenda Illingworth has been supporting Fin at the school since he first went there as an infant and also provides his physiotherapy.

 

She said: “When Fin was younger he had one of those little trikes but as he got older he outgrew it.

 

“He just wants to be outside and active with his mates. He’s a social little man, he’s an absolute superstar in school."

 

She added: “We’re just going to raise as much as we can for him.”

 

To get the ball rolling Brenda, along with five other teachers at the school, will be taking part in a sponsored bike ride on Saturday, June 24.

 

They will be cycling approximately 28 miles of the tough Tour de Yorkshire route through the Yorkshire Dales - starting at Britain’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn, and finishing at the King’s Head Hotel in Richmond.

 

They will follow up that exhausting event by bag-packing at Tesco in Catterick Garrison on Sunday, July 2 and will also be holding a fu8nd-raising raffle in school the following week.

 

To sponsor the bike ride, visit the JustGiving page justgiving.com/crowdfunding/brenda-illingworth?utm_id=2&utm_term=y6WGrnMED