Dunhurst pupil cycles 400 miles for British Heart Foundation fundraiser
A pupil at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst has raised £2,858 for the British Heart Foundation after cycling more than 400 miles in memory of her father.
Group 1 (Year 4) pupil Henrietta completed the sponsored cycle to remember her father, Toby, a keen cyclist who died in 2017 after a sudden cardiac arrest while out cycling with a friend.
During lockdown Henrietta and her mother Rachel spent time going out on bike rides together, which gave them the idea to set themselves a challenge to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, a charity which the family have supported for several years after Toby’s father also died following a sudden cardiac arrest.
Setting a modest target of £200, Henrietta and Rachel started the challenge in April, cycling for 39 hours over the following month and quickly smashing the original target.
Henrietta told the Petersfield Post: “I set this challenge in memory of my daddy Toby to help support the British Heart Foundation when I saw that charities were struggling due to the pandemic. It took a lot of commitment and determination to achieve it and at times I thought it might be impossible. I was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement I received from friends and anonymous donors. I’m delighted I was able to raise so much money for a charity which has been supported by our family before.”
Head of Dunhurst Colin Baty said: "We are so very proud of Henrietta and her wonderful accomplishment in memory of her dad. Raising such a tremendous sum for the British Heart Foundation is truly remarkable."
To donate to Henrietta’s fundraiser, visit her JustGiving page here.