George goes the extra (101) miles (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

George goes the extra (101) miles

4:40pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Cadisha Brown

A LOVE of cycling has given 11-year-old George Lloyd Jones the push to ride more than 100 miles to raise funds for a primary school in South Africa.

The selfless pupil of Winterfold House School, Chaddesley Corbett will be riding from Wales to Kidderminster to raise cash for Ncemaneni Primary School, in Kwazulu Natal.

Winterfold children and staff have been supporting the South African school, where the majority of children are AIDS and TB orphans, for six years and have provided sports and classroom equipment for the children.

George, of Stourport, will start his 101-mile ride on the promenade in the Welsh resort of Aberystwyth on Sunday and finish at his Chaddesley Corbett school the following day.

He is hoping to raise £3,000 for the South African youngsters so their school can have a new science block. He has already collected £2,300.

George said: “When I heard the school wanted to build a new science block I decided I wanted to do something to help.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait. I enjoy cycling. It’s really fun. It will be tough for me but it will be well worth it for the Ncemaneni children.”

He added the school, in Umlalazi, a township near Durban, was located in one of the poorest regions of South Africa and there were about 350 pupils but only nine teachers.

George’s father Denis will be supporting him during the ride which should take ten hours.

Mr Lloyd Jones said: “I’m very proud of George. It’s wonderful that he can take on the challenge.

“He’s been trying very hard and I’m very impressed by his effort.”

People can sponsor George by emailing george101cycle @hotmail.co.uk