Thatcham teacher takes on charity ride for pupil's cause

Kennet School's Dr West joins A Million Hugs for Holly

A KENNET School teacher is set for a grueling charity bike ride during the summer holidays in aid of one of his pupils.

Geography and computing teacher Steven West will cycle the length of the UK in July.

He’ll be raising money for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice to help Year 9 pupil Holly George.

Holly, from Beedon, was born with DiGeorge syndrome, a genetic disorder causing symptoms resulting from a missing piece of chromosome.

She and her family receive support from Alexander Devine nurses and the charity is raising money to build a new hospice in Berkshire.

Despite her life-limiting illness, the inspirational pupil set about raising money towards the project, contributing to the final £1m needed. asks Facebook users to donate £1 as a virtual hug, and Holly has raised more than £22,000 since last July.

Dr West has now joined Holly’s campaign and has raised £420 of his £1,000 target.

While the rest of the teaching profession is starting to relax at the start of the summer holidays, Dr West will head to John O’Groats in Scotland to start his journey to Land’s End on Saturday, July 23.

He plans to complete the 920-mile journey in eight days.

He said: “I've been a keen cyclist for as long as I can remember and have done a number of crazy challenges to raise money for different charities – but nothing as crazy as this; eight days, 920 miles, 16,000 metres of vertical climb – alone.

“I decided on New Year’s Day that this would be the year to do something I’ve wanted to do for so long. The flight north is booked, the bike is sorted. B&Bs have been booked. Training is well underway.”

To make a donation visit https://www.justgiving.co.uk/swestjogle2016