Super keen young cyclist, eight, to take on Devon coast to coast challenge

A keen eight-year-old cyclist is taking on the 93-mile Devon coast-to-coast challenge this Monday to raise money in memory of his beloved Uncle Ian.

Joseph Fearn is going to be cycling from Plymouth to Ilfracombe on Monday, July 14 with his dad Tony to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice in honour of his great uncle Ian, who passed away suddenly from cancer.

Ian was a well-known and beloved window cleaner in Plymouth city centre for more than 30 years and he was very close to his family and great nephew Joseph.

Above: Ian and Joseph shared many happy times together. 

He was diagnosed with liver cancer just one week before he died, so the sudden loss was a huge shock for everyone.

Joseph is a mad keen cyclist and has been riding bikes from a very young age, following his keen cycling dad Tony.

Above: Joseph has been cycling from a very young age and loves being on his bike.

The eight-year-old is scheduled to take part in the Tour de Moor event in September, which is organised by St Luke’s Hospice,  

Inspired by this he decided to do the full coast-to-coast route, often a rite of passage for Devon cyclists.

He has been training with all around Newton Ferrers and the South West coast path. Last week he rode to Torrington, 71 miles ‘just for fun’. 

Tour de Moor organisers were so impressed, they moved him up to the nine-year-old category for their event!

Monday’s challenge will see Joseph and Tony take on almost 100 miles of Devon’s winding hills and coastal roads, in a ride that is expected to take 14 to 16 hours – challenging for anyone, not least an eight-year-old.

Above: Joseph and dad Tony

The route begins at Newton Ferrers, goes through Tavistock, Okehampton, Hatherleigh, Lydford, Torrington, Bideford, Barnstaple, Braunton, Woolacombe and Ilfracombe. 

The pair will be followed on the road sections of their route by Paul Goodall of Take Me Taxis in Plymouth.

Mum Karen has urged drivers to keep a careful eye out for a little blond lad on a bike – but wants them to cheer him on too.

She told the Gazette: “Joseph is riding in honour of his great uncle Ian, who meant so much to our family.

“Please can you inform local drivers to be mindful on the roads along that cycling trail and inform the locals to be on the lookout for a tiny little dot with blond long hair in a bright red jersey on the roads between Newton Ferrers and Ilfracombe and to please cheer him on.”

Dad Tony lost his own mum to cancer when he was only eight-years-old, so the ride holds extra significance for him too.

He said: “He wanted to do something meaningful to help others going through what Ian did, and this ride is his tribute to him.”

Joseph is hoping to raise £1,000 for St Luke’s Hospice. If you would like to sponsor him, please go to www.justgiving.com/page/thecogpitjtfcycling

You can also follow his journey on Instagram: @thecogpitjtfcycling

Above: Great Uncle Ian, pictured with mum Karen, was very close to the family and his sudden loss was devastating.

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