Benjamin's cycle challenge for NSFT
Five-year-old Benjamin Lower got on his bike to cycle 100k in 10 days for Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust.
He and his mum Katie signed up to the Trust’s Just Giving page with the challenge and Benjamin passed the £1,000 mark with his efforts.
Katie said: “During a bike ride we talked about lockdown, coronavirus and how hard the NHS is working, in particular how lucky we are to live here and have safe routes to ride our bikes. After clapping outside the house on a Thursday evening Benjamin asked me why we were doing it. I explained it was important to show the NHS how grateful we are and his reply was ‘all the doctors and nurses must really love us to do that’.
“So we thought by doing something we enjoy, we could raise funds to support one of our local trusts.
“I don’t think mental health charities get enough recognition and deserve all the help and support, to care for those most in need. Benjamin is still very young and his view of mental health is mostly about positivity and confidence. We have always encouraged him to be himself and explore experiences that make him happy.”
The family lives at RAF Honington, as both Katie and Benjamin’s dad Rob are serving in the RAF. Benjamin attends the school in the village and his friends supported him via a Facebook group.
“The love and support Benjamin has received has been incredible,” said Katie. “I knew that his challenge would be supported by family but the donations have come in from friends, friends of friends and colleagues. We’ve maximised social media to spread the word, reaching the RAF Cycling Instagram page. He’s taking it all in his stride and loving the challenge, exceeding 10km most days.”
Rob has been organising the route for each ride but Benjamin specifically wanted to go on the airfield at Honington, so the family did that.
NSFT Deputy Chief Nurse Dawn Collins said: “It’s really lovely to see how people are pulling together to help raise funds for our staff and service users. We’d like to say a big thank you to Benjamin and his family. What a star.”