Students Who Completed 70-Mile Bike Ride Hand Over �500 To Cancer Research

STUDENTS from the Ely Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) have presented more than �500 to the Cancer Research charity after completing a 70 mile sponsored cycle ride. The five students, accompanied by instructors Des Storey, Paula Hennessey and Tom Mandley, rode f

STUDENTS from the Ely Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) have presented more than �500 to the Cancer Research charity after completing a 70 mile sponsored cycle ride.

The five students, accompanied by instructors Des Storey, Paula Hennessey and Tom Mandley, rode from Thetford Forest, along the Peddars Way, finishing at Hunstanton - the two day trip included an overnight camping stop at Pentley, near Castle Acre.

Training for the trip started as part of a new bike project, which also sees the young people learning about all aspects of bike safety and cycle maintenance.

The East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership funded the start-up of the 'On Your Bike' project during 2008, which allowed the Ely PRU to purchase bikes and safety equipment. The project is proved very popular and has now been added as an ongoing part of the curriculum.

Instructor Des Storey, said: "I am immensely proud of the lads and their efforts. Their enthusiasm and commitment to this project was really great and they all agreed it was very worthwhile. This is the first time the PRU has been involved in a fundraising project and we hope that this will be the start of an annual event.

"Also a special thanks to The East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership for making possible the Bike Project at Ely PRU. Thanks to them students are now able to participate in biking as a curriculum activity along with bike maintenance - this is a proven success with students."

The money raised from sponsorship, �509.50 in total, was presented to Laura Holland from Cancer Research UK.