School’s bike appeal brings joy to students

Determined staff from Birch Wood School launched an appeal earlier this year to raise funds for the equipment.

Thanks to a host of fundraising activities and donations, more than £9,000 was raised for the bikes which were presented and demonstrated at a road show event held at the school last week.

Even better news is that a third bike is also being bought thanks to a kind-hearted Londoner who received a sponsor letter by mistake!

Staff, pupils and appeal sponsors all got the chance to have a go on the bikes at last week’s road show. Parent Tom Smith also presented a £650 cheque towards the appeal.

Dawn Jeyes, one of Birch Wood’s fundraising co-ordinators, said: “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet what we’ve managed to achieve.

“We’ve raised such a lot of money in such a short space of time. We honestly thought it would take us a year to achieve our target and that it would be an ongoing project.”

She added: “We’d like to say a big thank you to all who supported us and to a very special lady called Dr G Davies who lives in London.

“I sent a sponsor letter to her by mistake and she was so moved by our efforts to raise money and thought it was such a wonderful act we were doing that she donated some money towards one of the bikes.

“When I spoke to her again and she asked me how we were doing I explained we were successful in buying two bikes and were aiming for a third. Without hesitation she offered to buy the third bike for us.

“All our staff are amazed at such a wonderful generous act from a lady who has no connection to the school and has asked for nothing in return.”

One of the bikes, all bought from the firm Get Cycling, is called a 2Rider. The bike, which has two seats side-by-side but individual pedals, can be used to teach able-bodied students about cycling as well as boosting their confidence.

The Wulfhorst Forus bike has a comfy seat at the front for a disabled student, allowing them to enjoy the experience of cycling which they would otherwise never have.

The third bike being bought is a Sunny Transporter which can be used to convey people in wheelchairs by using a platform.

The school is already looking to raise further funds towards buying a fourth bike next year.

Following a successful 70-mile two-day coastal ride event in Easter, staff are planning to hold another team-building/fundraising exercise next year.