Connor Pigott is pedalling with a purpose for the 31 days of October.
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The year nine Wingham High School student has taken on the Great Cycle Challenge with a view to raising money for fighting children’s cancers.
Connor has been a member of Manning Valley Cycle Club for the last three years and spends most nights training, and Wednesday nights racing, at the Taree track.
Currently racing in C grade, Connor is looking forward to moving from restricted gears and on to B grade.
He is hoping to make A grade as soon as possible when he is in the under 19s group, and his ultimate goal is to turn professional and “perhaps” become an Olympian.
Connor saw a fellow club member’s post on Facebook about the Great Cycle Challenge and clicked through to the challenge website.
The stories he read there affected him deeply and compelled him to challenge himself to help out in the best way he could.
His heart strings were pulled by the story of little Josh, who was diagnosed at four months of age with a mandarin-sized tumour in the middle of his head.
Connor was also struck by the fact that more than 600 Australian kids are diagnosed with cancer every year and three children a week die from the disease.
He quickly signed up for the challenge and set himself a goal of pedalling 500 kilometres and raising money for the Children’s Medical Research Institute.
“I’m taking on the personal challenge to raise $500 to save little lives and give these kids the brighter future they deserve,” Connor said.
As of Friday, October 14 he had pedalled 120.7 kilometres and raised $160.
He can manage the 500 kilometres himself. On Sunday alone he rode 70 kilometres on a club ride from Martin Bridge in Taree to Johns River and back again.
However he needs help reaching his financial goal – to date he has raised $160, leaving $340 to go.
“My challenge will be tough, but nothing compared to what these brave kids face every day of their lives as they battle this terrible disease,” Connor said.
“But to achieve my goal, I need your help.”
To help Connor reach his goals and make a difference by supporting his challenge, visit his fundraising page at https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Pages/the-kids/joshs-story and donate.
All funds raised go to support the Children’s Medical Research Institute to continue their work in researching and creating a cure for childhood cancer.