A YEAR 9 Weston student has raised over £1,600 in memory of his cousin by cycling 67 miles.
Sam, who studies at Worle Community School Academy in Weston-super-Mare, completed the challenge to raise funds for Winston’s Wish, a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved children.
His remarkable feat was undertaken in memory of his late cousin on the 10th anniversary of the tragic loss.
Each year, Sam's mother organizes an event called ‘Jake's Wish’ to honour the memory of her nephew.
With unwavering spirit, he set out to cycle the entire length of the Isle of Wight, a gruelling 67-mile journey.
Undeterred by the challenging task ahead, Sam pushed through, completing an impressive 73 miles over the course of two days.
The first day's ride was marked by adverse weather conditions, testing his resilience to the fullest.
Fortunately, the second day brought glorious sunshine.
Sam's remarkable achievement has garnered widespread admiration and praise from the local community.
The school’s principal, Mark Tidman, said: “We are all super proud of Sam. His accomplishment is a shining example of the power of perseverance, compassion, and the ability to transform tragedy into a force for good.”
A message on the charity’s website read: “We were the UK’s first childhood bereavement charity and have been supporting grieving children and young people since 1992.
“We continue to lead the way in providing specialist child bereavement support services across the UK.
“Winston’s Wish provides emotional and practical bereavement support to children, young people (up to 25), and those who care for them.
"Last year, we supported an estimated 62,484 children and young people after the death of someone important to them.
"This is a devastating situation for a child, but with the right support at the right time, delivered in the right way, we know they can go on to lead full and flourishing lives.
“Our expert teams offer one-off and ongoing bereavement support, and we also provide online resources, specialist publications, and training for professionals.”
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