Harbury boy raises nearly £4,000 for charity by cycling 26 miles on specially adapted trike

An eight-year-old boy has raised nearly £4,000 for charity by cycling 26 miles on his specially adapted trike.

Freddie Mann from Harbury has been taking on the challenge with his Dad Ollie Mann.

The pair have been cycling to help raise money for Entrust Care Partnership, which is a social enterprise which provides a range of services and support to children and adults with disabilities and additional needs and their families in Warwickshire.

Freddie has special needs so this cause is close to the family's heart

Aimee Mann, Freddie's mum, said: "Freddie attends a brilliant SEN School and has a wicked sense of humour and loves James Cordon's Carpool Karaoke, Youtube, Basketball, Boccia and cycling.

"He has a wide and varied list of additional needs and disabilities.

"These include a brain injury due to a stroke before birth and an extremely rare de novo (occurring in him for the fist time) genetic condition called TUBA 1A.

"He is one of less than one in a million with this diagnosis.

"This all presents as a severe learning disability, communication difficulties plus developmental verbal dyspraxia, a neurological eyesight condition, suspected absence seizures, anxiety and big behaviour, balance issues, low muscle tone, bowel problems, weakness on his left side due to the stroke and a number of other physical needs.

"He has a professional for almost every area of development including Neurology, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language, OT, Bowel, dietician, paediatrician and the list goes on."

Talking about the challenge Aimee said: "We started out with a goal of 26km to raise £1,000 (thinking we'd be lucky to reach £500) so the distance Freddie has actually cycled and the amount generously donated is absolutely brilliant.

"Amazingly, Freddie has independently (pushing his Dads bike along) cycled at least 2.6km (probably more) which is a fantastic physical achievement for him.

"This challenge has given Freddie and his brother and sister a fantastic positive focus during this strange and unsettling time of lockdown.

"It's easy to get wrapped up in your own thoughts and worries when times are uncertain.

"This has bought joy and a focus outside of our home and onto our community, to our family and to everyone who has supported Freddie and Ollie and their supporters Bella, Jago and occasionally Teddington.

"We're so overwhelmed and shocked by the level of support and generosity and send huge thanks to you."

Lynne Barton, director of Entrust Care Partnership, said: "The money raised by such an amazing little boy was hard earned and was such a fabulous endeavour, that we want to do something spectacular as a mark of respect for the whole family.

"We intend to keep the funds safe and sound and plan a Celebrating Children event, inviting Freddie as guest of honour together with the families we support.

"We all love our work and can think of nothing better than a coming together in friendship to have fun. The event we will arrange will include music, dancing, arts, gardening, sensory activities and much more.

"Thank you so much on behalf of all the families we have the pleasure to support.”

To donate go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/5hpsy-team-work-makes-the-dream-work