Two young Rugby pupils cycle more than 200 miles to raise hundreds for Diabetes UK

A Year 7 pupil's from Rugby s Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College saw his fondness for lockdown bike rides turn into a mammoth cycling challenge to raise funds for diabetes UK.

Garrick House student Kiran Mistry began taking family bike rides when lockdown restrictions kicked in, and soon began wondering if there would be way to raise funds for charity.

A discussion about taking part in a cycling challenge of hundreds of miles ensued, but Kiran and his brother Arun, who attends St Andrew’s Benn Primary School, were a little hesitant about taking on the distance.

But the doubts soon gave way to wanting to make a difference, so Kiran and his family began pedalling towards a 150-mile target as part of Diabetes UK's Coast-to-Coast challenge.

This initial route was the equivalent of travelling from Seascale to Whitby.

The family clocked up the distance by completing a number of cycle rides varying in distance from a few miles, up to outings of above marathon distance.

And in one recent bike ride to Draycote Water they covered just over 27 miles.

With that level of dedication the family soon surpassed the 150-mile route and set their sights on the next level - the 220-mile challenge, equivalent to cycling from Margate to Weston-Super-Mare.

Again their hard work saw them pedal through the challenge, having now completed a total of 226 miles and raising £315 for Diabetes UK.

Mum Reena Mistry said: “Kiran and Arun both enjoy sports and with them not being able to go to school during the lockdowns, or do any after school clubs, this seemed to be a good way to keep their fitness levels up.

"I am really proud of both of them for show great levels of stamina during our bike rides.”

Alison Davies, Avon Valley headteacher, said, “This is another brilliant example of one our students using his time and initiative to do something positive during a difficult time.

"I wish Kiran, and his brother Arun, all the best as they complete the last few miles of their cycling challenge.”

Visit cycle.diabetes.org.uk/fundraising/reena2021 to donate to the fundraiser.