A MOSSLEY boy has raised a four-figure sum after getting in his bike for 320 miles to honour his neighbour.
Eamonn Postlethwaite set off from his home and pedalled all the way to Clare Island, on the west coast of Ireland. He has raised an astonishing £1,400.
And it was all in the name of George’s Den, a Mossley-based fundraising initiative to set up a centre for local teenagers.
It is being set up in memory of 13-year-old George Butterworth-Sice, who sadly passed away in June last year from cancer.
Eamonn, 13-year old sister Ciara, dad Matt and family friend Mike Grace et off from Mossley heading for the ferry to Belfast on August 8.
Ciara cycled with them as far as Liverpool on the Trans-Pennine Trail, then left the boys to complete their journey to Ireland.
They arrived at Belfast port early the next morning, from there they averaged more than 70 miles a day over the next three days, finally arriving at the quayside for the final boat to Clare Island after five arduous days cycling on August 12.
Matt said highlights were the beautiful weather, which he quipped was unusual for Ireland in August, the quiet roads and suffering only one puncture the whole journey.
They also could not resist a dip but enjoying a bracing swim in the Atlantic Ocean at County Donegal.
And there was little holding him back as Eamonn said: “The best bit was sprinting ahead of my dad and the ferry crossing to Ireland.”
A proud Matt added: “The biggest challenge were the endless hills and late finishes – about 7.30pm each day.
“But also slowing Eamonn down so we could keep up with him – he’s like a machine, he probably could have done 100 miles every day.”
Now after putting in the effort to get there, Eamonn and family relaxed on a two-week holiday on the island with his brother, sister and nine cousins.