Primary school pupils from County Durham are encouraging their community to get back on their bikes and celebrate cycling.
Bearpark Primary School is taking part in a three-week cycling event, the Big Bearpark Bike Bash.
The launch of the Bike Bash was attended by Cllr Marion Wilson, who funded the week’s events with a £1,000 grant from her neighbourhood budget, administered through Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP), Cllr Lucy Hovvels, who attended in her capacity as Deputy Mayor of Durham and former Chairman of Durham County Council, Cllr John Lethbridge.
All 140 pupils, aged two to 11, are taking park in cycling activities, offering them new skills and hoping to ignite a love of cycling that will last a lifetime.
Children will grow in confidence with the help of professional cycling instructor Ben Tweedie, from Cycling Generation, who will also be teaching the kids valuable skills in bike maintenance and map reading.
Cycling doesn’t stop at the school gates however, as pupils invite the whole community to get involved. With the help of two turbo bikes, the village is challenged to help school pupils achieve their goal of cycling the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats, 1,407km, by the end of the third week.
On Thursday 18 July, a special day open to the whole community and attended by Cllr Katie Corrigan, Chairman of Durham County Council, will round off events with children’s cycle races.
Along with the two-wheel races, parents and community members are invited to join in field and science activities.
Joanne Clements, head teacher at Bearpark Primary School, said: “The children have shown incredible enthusiasm and a real love of cycling. We are not only teaching young people how to cycle safely, but encouraging a hobby or habit that will benefit their health and well-being for the future.
“We hope the community will continue to get involved and get on board- or ‘on a bike’- and come along to the final event.”
