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Boy's charity cycle to Paris Paralympics

BBC 12 year old Dexter on his bike practicing on the streets near his Berkshire homeBBC
Dexter plans to cycle 230 miles to Paris in three days

A 12-year-old boy is preparing to set off on a 230-mile (370.1km) trip, cycling from Berkshire to the Paralympics in Paris.

Dexter is undertaking the ride for a group of charities, including WheelPower based in Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, which supports wheelchair users accessing sport.

He will also be raising money for Sport in Mind, based in his hometown of Reading, which uses physical activity to help those experiencing poor mental health.

The journey is due take three days, with Dexter hoping to arrive in Paris in time for the start of the Paralympics at the end of the month.

Family photograph Dexter and Chris Boardman on their bikes during the former Olympian's Pedal to Paris event.Family photograph
Dexter joined former Olympic cyclist, Chris Boardman, for part of his Pedal to Paris

The ride is the latest in a series of sporting challenges he has undertaken.

His first - at the age of nine - was Dexter's Decathalon, when he took on ten sports he had never previously tried, all before his 10th birthday.

This year he has already joined Chris Boardman for one of the stages of the former Olympic champion's Pedal to Paris event, intended to raise the impact of climate change on sport.

Dexter began training with regular gym sessions. They have gradually reduced as on-the-road training took over.

Those rides started at 10-15 miles (16-24.1km).

"Last Sunday we did our longest ride ever - 70 miles (112.7km), which is half way to Portsmouth and back," Dexter said.

That is the same distance as the first leg of his journey to Paris, which will take him to the ferry port.

Dexter puts on his cycle helmet watched by his Mum Sam.
Dexter's mum Sam stepped in to join him at the last minute after another cyclist dropped out due to injury

Going with him on the journey is his mum, Sam.

She said Dexter first came up with the plan last year but she managed to persuade him to delay it until the Games in Paris.

Nothing seemed to put him off, she explained.

"It just drives him even more, which is amazing," she said.

Dexter chose Sport in Mind as one of the organisations to benefit from the ride after it supported him when he was bullied at primary school.

Dexter checks the gears on his cycle.
Dexter already has plans for his next challenge

Dexter is already planning to take on the Three Peaks next year.

To make the task of climbing the highest mountains - Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales - even harder, he said he wanted to cycle between them.

"I've said maybe he should wait another year," his mum said.