HIS epic journey is complete and Jago Wickett from Week St Mary has raised more than £5,000 for his chosen charity.

Eleven-year-old Jago, son of Tom and Sarah Wickett, decided to take on a 500km challenge which would see him cycle from his home in Week St Mary to Warbstow Primary Academy and back again each day to raise funds for the Royal Cornwall Hospital Charity, with a special focus on its breast cancer department the Mermaid Centre.

Jago chose to support the centre because his Godmother Zoe was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. However, thanks to the centre’s support she was recently given the all clear.

His mother set up a Virgin Money Giving page and within 12 hours Jago had achieved his £200 target.

Now his journey is complete and after many weeks of tough cycling come rain or shine he has been rewarded, raising a whopping £5,230.94 (including Gift Aid) for the Mermaid Centre.

His family are very proud of Jago’s strength and determination and a special celebratory welcome was staged for the final leg of his journey.

Mother Sarah said: “We are incredibly proud to say that Jago has completed his charity challenge and thanks to everyone’s support and generosity he has raised over £5,000 for the Mermaid Centre in Truro. 

“The last ride was an amazing experience for him and many local people cheered him on along the route and a very special surprise was waiting for him at the finish line, his inspiration, his Godmother Zoe.

“I cannot express how proud we as a family are of his achievements, having done the route with him only once, I completely understand how challenging this is for an adult let alone an 11-year-old child. The grit and determination he has shown has been incredible and the photograph of him seeing Zoe (left), shows why he never gave up, even on the toughest of days.”

Sarah added: “We would like to express our gratitude to everyone that has supported and sponsored him, those that been involved in the cake sales and raffle. He has had a whole community behind him and he couldn’t have done it without them.”

There is still time to donate, visit the Virgin Money Giving website and search for Sarah Wickett’s ‘Jago’s 500km School Cycle’ page.