Nine-year-old Joel Nugent has made his family proud after cycling across the country and raising valuable funds for Manchester Children’s Hospital.

When Joel’s classmate Libby was diagnosed with leukaemia, he was determined to do as much as he could to give back to the hospital that had cared for her.

Libby was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in January 2019 after becoming ill during the Christmas period. She immediately began an intense phase of chemotherapy with a length stay on Ward 84 on the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The young warrior’s treatment lasted for over two and a half years, where she received fantastic support from the team on Ward 84.

Feeling inspired after watching his friend battle through such an ordeal, Joel Peter Nugent decided that he would cycle 174 miles of Hadrian’s Wall in support of the hospital.

A keen cyclist, Joel trains with Mossley CRT and loves nothing more than to be on his bike.

“Joel absolutely loves his cycling and doing long distances, he thinks it’s nothing doing 50 miles a day.

“He powers up hills in front of me and I have an electric bike,” his mum, Liz Nugent, says.

So, when Joel asked if he could cycle the incredible 174-mile challenge, his family were beyond proud to support him.

Joel, along with his mum Liz, younger sister Florence in tandem, 69-year-old grandma and 66-year-old great auntie, began their journey in Ravenglass.

Three days later, they arrived in South Shields having completed their mammoth task.

Joel was beyond pleased to have completed this ride, even more so having raised an incredible amount of funds for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Liz says she and the rest of the family are ‘extremely proud’ of Joel, a young man who has shown to be truly selfless.

Completing 177 miles, more than the expected distance, Joel has raised £1,477 on his JustGiving page.

This money will go directly to support children like Libby who are diagnosed with cancer, facing their biggest battle.

The Haughton Green youngster has amazed the local community with his kindness, raising more than he ever thought he would.

You can support Joel's fundraising page here.

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