Boy completes challenge in best friend's memory

An eight-year-old boy has completed a 50-mile (80km) cycling and climbing challenge in memory of his best friend who died from a brain tumour in 2020 at the age of five.

Louis, from Herefordshire, set out by bike from Stretton Sugwas Primary School in Hereford and finished his journey at the summit of Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons on Saturday.

Every 10 miles represented a year of best friend George's life.

Louis's mum, Emma, described his achievement as "emotional and inspiring".

She said that Louis's family, friends and schoolmates had rallied behind him during the challenge for charity as local children came together to help others.

In August 2020, George was rushed to hospital after falling ill at breakfast.

He was later diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a highly malignant brain tumor with a 0% survival rate for children.

He died in October that year surrounded by his loved ones, including his two brothers, Oscar and Harry.

A charity named George's Fund was set up by his family, aiming to help children overcome challenges by connecting with nature and the outdoors.

George's mum has raised more than £57,000 for the fund, adding that making a small difference to another child's life gave her a huge comfort.

Remembering George, Louis's mum Emma said he would hide a plastic spider in lots of different places around the classroom to scare the boys' teacher.

"They just loved bombing about together... playing superheroes, pirates and army," she added.

She said that children at the school dressed up every year to celebrate George's life.

“George was with us," she said of the challenge. "There was torrential rain at one point, but when we gathered for pictures at the top, the sun just shone.”

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