A kind-hearted nine-year-old raised nearly £2,500 after taking on a 25-mile charity bike ride in rural Norfolk. Ella-May Saunders, who lives in Jermyn Way, Tharston, completed the challenge for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). She cycled for three hours, with one quick pit stop, and was rightly proud of herself after raising an astonishing £2,473. Ella-May’s fundraiser was in memory of James Thorndyke, the baby son of a close family friend who died in February 2017. James had Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and received care at EACH’s former Quidenham hospice. He died five days before his first birthday. His mum, Susie, is friends with Ella-May’s mum, Louise, and herself a successful fundraiser for the charity, having held two balls in 2018 and 2020 and donated just over £40,000. Louise said: “We’re so proud of Ella-May. “She didn’t moan once, stuck to her task and completed the challenge with no problems at all. “We only stopped once, for a quick bite to eat and drink in Bunwell. “Other than that, she completed the route in one go, in three hours.” Ella-May added: “It was tough but worth it in the end.” Her route took in Forncett, Spooner Row, Bunwell, Carleton Rode, Tibenham, Aslacton, Great Moulton and Wacton before heading back to Tharston. Ella-May’s fundraiser was made even more impressive by the fact she has weekly physio sessions because of problems with her legs and knees. The Aslacton Primary School pupil, who celebrates her tenth birthday later this month and has a five-year-old sister, Florence, was joined on the epic bike ride by both Louise and dad Jonny. Her fundraising page is still open. To sponsor Ella-May, click here or visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ella-maysaunders Photo Credits : EACH
