LITTLE Sophie Hebdon got on her bike to help raise money for a good pal at the weekend.
Five-year-old Sophie and her mum, Katy, from Cockfield, cycled ten miles to help raise money towards the cost of a pioneering device for severely disabled youngster Teddy Berriman.
Sophie and Teddy became firm friends when they attended pre-school soft play sessions in Barnard Castle together.
And although Sophie now goes to Cockfield Primary, while Teddy attends Butterknowle Primary, they still keep in touch.
Katy and Sophie’s cycle ride took them from the centre of Cockfield out of the village onto the fell, down to Burnt Houses and back via Staindrop Road, with the finishing line on the recreation field – just in time for the start of an afternoon of fun and games organised by the Christmas lights committee.
Mrs Hebdon said: “Sophie and Teddy got on really well at soft play. She got a new bike for Christmas and I was thinking of things we could both do and decided a bike ride would be fun.
“We had a practice ride which went well – we didn’t fall off and our legs are okay.”
The money raised will go towards the £14,000 needed to buy six-year-old Teddy an Innowalk, a multi-purpose device to aid his sitting, standing and moving.
The youngster suffers from a disabling form of spastic cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism and is partially sighted.
He can’t walk, sit or stand unaided, requires round-the-clock care and needs the use of a frame or chair to get around.
Teddy and his mum, Nicola Short, were at the start line to wave Katy and Sophie off on their ride and also at the recreation field to join them for the last few yards.
Mrs Short said: “Katy and Sophie have been fantastic.”
All money raised by Katy and Sophie’s efforts, along with cash taken at Teddy’s stall at the fun day, will be added to his fund, which is part of the children’s health charity Tree of Hope.
Mrs Short explained that all money raised for Teddy is held in trust for him by the charity and can be accessed when it is required.
“Through Tree of Hope, you can follow Teddy, read his story and raise money for him,” she said.
