Five-year-old Cleveleys lad bikes 100 laps to raise £800 for overseas charity

Nathaniel Currey only ditched his training wheels a few weeks ago, but that didn’t stop him taking on the challenge outside his Cleveleys Avenue home on Saturday.

He wanted to raise £50 for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), which provides aid to people in need in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, after watching a video aboutwater poverty at school.

But, thanks to the generosity of local people, he smashed his goal more than 16 times over - raising a total of £875 so far.

This will go towards building wells to provide clean water to people who otherwise would not have access to it.

Nathaniel’s mum Becky, 31, said: “It all began when he watched a video at school about a man who walked 10 miles each day to get water. He was very upset by it; we were having new taps put in and he said we needed to send them to the man so he could have water.

“He said he wanted to give £300, so I suggested he should do something where people could sponsor him. I told him he might not get £300, but anything we could raise would help, and we have raised over £800 already.

“I’m amazed. He’s such a deep thinker anyway and he does worry about other people. I think as a mum all you want is for your children to be kind. He only learned how to ride his bike without stablizers three weeks ago, but he was just so determined to do it. We thought he might not be ready, but he’d do a few laps and then have a rest and start again. He’s really focused. I’m very proud of him.”

WHAT IS CAFOD?

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), is a religious charity that provides aid in 165 countries around the world.

It contributes to numerous causes, including equipment for emergency response teams in poor areas, food, water and shelter for victims of the Yemen crisis, and, most recently, people in vulnerable communities whose lives have been devastated by coronavirus.

Nathaniel’s fundraiser is still open, with all money raised going to the charity. Find it online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nathaniel-currey.