Twelve-year-old Hector Rees-Davies is training for a gruelling ten-hour long, 100-mile sponsored bike ride to raise funds for the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre at the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath.

Hector, from Kilmersdon, who is a student at Millfield Prep School, has been busy training for his challenge and has developed his own training programme. He has already accomplished cycling fifty miles in a day to prepare for ‘Hector’s Great Bike Ride’ on Saturday, 11th August, which is being supported by Bath Bike Hire.

Hector decided he wanted to fundraise for the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre and support the fundraising appeal Therapies Matter, as the RUH was instrumental in the treatment of Ed Jackson, a former Millfield student and rugby player, who broke his neck last year. He has already raised over £700 for the campaign by collecting sponsorship monies.

Hector said: “I really want to help raise money for the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre, so that when others are hurt, the RUH can help them. I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who has donated so far, and everyone who will in the near future. It’s not too late to make a difference!”

Hector got the fundraising bug as for the past eight months he has been washing cars and saving money to go on a rugby tour to Dubai with his school in October. His parents promised him that he could go if he raised half of the funds.

Having reached his fundraising target for the school rugby tour, the rest of Hector’s fundraising will now go towards the RNHRD and Therapies Centre, that will provide rheumatology, therapies and pain management services to help people like Ed Jackson recover from serious injuries, as well managing long-term conditions.

The new building will include a large hydrotherapy pool, specialist gym and rehabilitation equipment, and a biologics treatment space.

Maddy Jones, Senior Events Fundraiser, The Forever Friends Appeal, said: “A huge thank you and congratulations goes out to Hector and his family for all of their hard work – and we wish him the best of good luck for the amazing challenge that he has ahead.

“Thanks to the Brownsword Match Funding Challenge, Hector’s total fundraising amount will be doubled. We are so impressed by everything that he has achieved – amazing work, Hector!”

Anyone wishing to show their support for Hector can make a donation to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/victoria-rees-davies, where he has also been writing his weekly training updates for the bike ride.

For more information and The Forever Friends Appeal visit: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk