Northamptonshire teen's coronavirus lockdown cycling hobby inspires 50-mile challenge for charity

A teenager from Northamptonshire is raising money for a mental health charity by cycling 50 miles - having only taken it up during the coronavirus lockdown.

Cameron Dawes is more accustomed to playing football and pool but has been forced to get on two wheels to keep fit for the past seven weeks.

The 19-year-old from Brixworth has decided to test himself by riding 50 miles on June 1, for the Miles for Mental Health campaign by the Rethink Mental Illness charity.

"I wanted to do it because everyone is stuck inside and there will be a lot of people who have mental health issues so being stuck inside isn't going to help them at all," he said.

"So being stuck inside myself got me thinking about how I could help others and I came up with this."

Cameron has never done 50 miles on his bicycle before but has been going further and further on his daily rides, with around 24 miles his current best.

He expects the challenge to take around six-to-seven hours on a circular route between Brixworth and Kingsthorpe.

Cameron's family have been supporting him in his training and fundraising, with his father joking that he would never complete the challenge to give him extra motivation.

"They seem quite proud to be fair, my dad rang me and reckons I'm going to struggle but I said the more people that doubt me, the more motivation I have and as long as there's a crate of beer waiting for me when I get home, I will do it," he said.

"I'm quite looking forward to it, it will be a challenge but I like a challenge and now I am raising money I have got to do it!"

To support Cameron, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/cameron-dawes.