Five-year-old boy inspired by his grandmother to cycle 100 miles for staff at St Richard’s Hospital

A five-year-old boy is half way through a 100-mile cycling challenge to raise money for staff at St Richard’s Hospital.
Jack Turnbull is using his one hour of exercise per day fundraising after being inspired by his grandmother — a nurse in the operating theatres at St Richard’s.Jack Turnbull is using his one hour of exercise per day fundraising after being inspired by his grandmother — a nurse in the operating theatres at St Richard’s.
Jack Turnbull is using his one hour of exercise per day fundraising after being inspired by his grandmother — a nurse in the operating theatres at St Richard’s.

Jack Turnbull, from Emsworth, is using his one hour of exercise per day fundraising after being inspired by his grandmother — a nurse in the operating theatres at St Richard’s.

After using his pocket money to sign up to the Race At Your Pace challenge, which runs throughout April, Jack had initially planned to cycle 50 miles, but he managed to reach 49 after just 14 days.

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Mum Pippa, who upped the target to 100 miles, said: “It started as something to do whilst in lockdown and then Jack asked me to do it to raise money as his grandma [Ann O’Clee] works there. 

“He has chosen to raise money for the NHS and its workers and buy presents to show his thanks to them.

“He has so far received donations of £195, and we are looking to spend this on gifts, chocolate, hand cream, wine etc, anything that would be a token of thanks to them. If we can get to £500 that would be lovely.”

Pippa said they want to show appreciation to the NHS staff who are ‘working really hard’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

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She added: “We want to bring a smile to their faces. Jack is going to ask his grandma what they need. 

“For him to decide to do it is lovely. I have done a lot of fundraising in the past but it’s the first time for Jack.

He’s doing brilliantly well. He’s never really cycled on the road before. Whilst the roads are quieter we are teaching him how to do that.

“It’s me and my younger son on the back of my bike. It’s the three of us doing it together which is really nice.

“Anything we can do to help we will.”

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