Ché (4) cycles 200 miles to raise £2000 for Falkirk Foodbank

Four-year-old Ché Hanlon set himself an initial target of raising £250 for local foodbanks by completing a sponsored cycle, but he’s ended up raising more than eight times that amount.

The Polmont youngster, who will start primary one after the holidays, has raised more than £2000 for Falkirk Foodbank.

And it’s not just the cash target that he’s bypassed, he smashed the distance too.

Originally planning on cycling 100 miles in July, he raised this distance to 200 miles before starting out, however by the end of the month he had completed a massive 240 miles on his bike.

Ché finished his month’s fundraising efforts off in style last Friday when his parents Laura and Liam arranged a special surprise for him.

He completed the last part of his cycle on the track at Grangemouth Stadium in front of family and friends, before handing over a giant cheque to representatives from Falkirk Foodbank for £1850.

Laura said: ““It was a surprise for him, he never knew we had arranged it.

“By Friday morning he had done 229 miles, so we did an 11 mile ride to get the total to 240 miles.

“He has also now raised £2010 on the JustGiving page, so he’s smashed his initial targets.

“He absolutely loved finishing on the track.

“When he first came in to the stadium he was a bit nervous .

“He slowed down for the photographer but then he sped off. His wee legs were going so fast.

“He said he liked cycling in a lane and he enjoyed going through the finish line.

“We’re grateful to Falkirk Community Trust for letting him ride on the track.

"It was a really good day and we’re all really proud of him.”

There was never any doubt that Ché will continue with his cycling now he's completed his challenge, he’s a huge fan of his bike.

Laura added: “He has just signed up for a place with Falkirk Junior Bike Club when things are up and running again.

"The club saw the article the last time he was in the Falkirk Herald and got in touch with me.

"Representatives came along on Friday and presented him with a medal at the end of his lap.”

Dad Liam had approached the community trust to ask about using the stadium for his final lap of the fundraiser and the team were delighted to get involved.

Paul Finnie, sport and recreation manager, said: “We were all impressed by Ché’s achievement, made all the more remarkable by the fact that he’s only four years old.

"It just goes to show what you can do when you set your mind to it.

"I’m sure we’ll see him in the Tour de France in years to come! Congratulations to Ché and his family.”

Ché decided to complete the fundraiser after he learned from his mum and dad that some children don’t get three meals a day.

He asked how he could help and given his love of his bike the family thought the best thing to do was to raise money for the local food banks through a sponsored cycle.

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