Milnthorpe schoolboys on bike trek to land dream (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Milnthorpe schoolboys on bike trek to land dream
4:40pm Wednesday 5th January 2011 in Silverdale news
HIGH HOPES: Toby Walker, left, and George Beale, plana 340-mile cycle ride to raise funds
TWO ambitious South Lakeland schoolboys are set to cycle more than 300 miles to raise money to help realise a shared lifetime dream of becoming pilots.
Both Toby Walker, 15, and George Beale, 14, Year 10 pupils at Dallam School, Milnthorpe, are to cycle from Walney to Whitby, and back again, to raise cash to put towards a £30,000 kitty, the sum needed to train as a commercial airline pilot.
Toby, of Redhills Road, Arnside, said his main battle to become a pilot was getting enough money together. “It’s everything to me. I have wanted to be a pilot ever since I can remember and for me there is no plan B,” he said.
“To become a pilot is so important to me and I know I can do it. I just need to raise the money. I am prepared to do almost anything to get the money together, so if this cycle ride goes well I will be doing a lot more fundraising.”
Toby’s big brother, Andrew, 23, will be joining the hope-ful pilots on their 340-mile ride when they leave on April 10.
“I love cycling, so I thought it would be a really great way to start fundraising,” added Toby. “My teachers all think it’s a wonderful idea and have been sponsoring us.”
George, of Wallings Lane, Silverdale, is also donating some of the money he raises to Keswick Mountain Rescue, and the charity Scope – pedalling beyond Whitby to Scarborough.
“One of my friends suffers from cerebral palsy so I wanted to raise money for him too,” he said.
“I have already cycled in quite a few long-distance trips so I have decided to carry on from Whitby to Scarborough and then across to Morecambe.”
To become a commercial airline pilot students need to pass an initial medical examination and gain either a Commercial Pilots Licence, or Airline Transport Pilot Licence, plus prove extensive flying experience.
If you want to sponsor the teenagers, visit www.w2wsp onsoredride.tk
