AN 11-year-old boy has reached the finishing line after cycling more than 500 miles to deliver aid for children in Malawi.
Charlie Doherty and his mum Julie set off from Brighton three weeks ago to donate a backpack of gifts and essentials to the Mary’s Meals warehouse in Glasgow. It will be placed in a container with a further 5000 packs to ship to Malawi, where the charity provides a daily meal in a place of education to more than 479,000 children.
Charlie, from Crawley in Sussex, has been fundraising for Mary’s Meals since he was six. He asked for money to be donated to the charity instead of receiving birthday presents after hearing of the suffering of children in other countries.
The pair found the cycle ride a challenge, but were inspired to keep going by the thought of those they were helping.
Charlie said: “Around £2 can feed a child for four months. I wonder what I’m going to be having for dinner, but so many children wonder if they’re even going to have dinner. When the journey got tough, we had to press on as many children have it a lot tougher than me.”
The pair averaged around 30 miles a day, and during their journey they had to abandon camping when their trailer of equipment proved unsuitable for long distance cycling.
However, they met many people who were keen to help along the way, receiving offers of meals, accommodation and donations.
Picture: Jamie Simpson
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