Cycling more than 80 miles in two days is no easy task, especially for children. But my son Harvey, along with three friends and nine dedicated adults, managed to bike to all four of the Premier League football stadiums in the north west. They started from our school, Stockton Heath Primary in Warrington, and aimed to raise £5,000 to construct two new bike sheds for the school. Over the weekend, they were joined by a big crowd, who cheered them along the way from Everton’s stadium at Goodison Park to Liverpool FC’s ground at Anfield, on to the Etihad, home of Manchester City, and finishing at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.
The bike ride wasn’t Harvey’s first fundraiser; he has been helping good causes since 2022, when he was six years old, and has raised more than £45,000 to date. His fundraising journey began during a school council meeting when the school were discussing redeveloping the playground. Harvey was eager to contribute, so he created his inaugural fundraiser: a 16-mile walk from Stockton Heath to the stadium at Old Trafford. Despite his small size, he persevered and completed the journey in eight hours.
- Penalty shoot out success
- Sporty fundraisers
- A successful grant application meant we could start a cycle library
Our sporty family enjoys spending time outdoors, and Harvey has always loved cycling. He trained hard for the bike shed fundraiser, managing to cycle an impressive 300 miles. Although Harvey is an avid Manchester United fan, he wanted to unite people through a shared love of football and foster a sense of camaraderie.
Over the weekend, Harvey and the team smashed their fundraising goal. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters. The PTA highlighted the opportunity for match funding to participating parents and three companies stepped in with contributions totalling over £500.
We are keen to encourage healthier habits for the pupils and reduce their reliance on car journeys to and from school. The new bike sheds will provide storage for an additional 40 bikes.
Naiomi Goodman, PTA volunteer, Stockton Heath Primary PTA, Warrington (405 pupils)
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