12 year old pedalling 2012km to visit every 2012 Olympic venue arrives in Bristol, Wednesday 27th June
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Inspired by the Olympics 12 year old Jake Phipps is cycling a phenomenal 2012 kilometres, the equivalent of John O Groat’s to Land’s End and back, to visit every 2012 Olympic venue in order to raise awareness of the power of sport to change young lives.
His epic six week journey started at Glasgow’s Hampden Park in early June and is taking in St James Park, Old Trafford, Coventry, Cardiff, Bristol, Weymouth, Southend, Wembley, Greenwich and finally the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London a week before the opening ceremony in late July.
Jake, who is due to arrive in Bristol from Cardiff on Wednesday evening before setting off for Weymouth, has struggled with communication difficulties and special educational needs from an early age.
“Sport has changed Jake’s life” explains his Mum Nic Phipps. “He was inspired by watching Chris Hoy on TV at Beijing and has taken up cycling and other sports which have helped him feel good about himself. Sport has given him the chance to connect on a level with other kids. His teachers believe it is absolutely extraordinary that Jake has gained the confidence to move on to mainstream secondary schooling.”
Despite the unusually wet weather Jake has had a fantastic experience: “Everyone has been so friendly and helpful”.
Jake is raising money and awareness for Access Sport, a charity which helps kids like himself through building inclusive community sports clubs and for Action For Children which helps adopted children.
