A PENARTH youngster hoping to spend a year working abroad has boosted his fundraising target by completing a sponsored bike ride from Brecon to Cardiff.

Alex Huntley, 17, is hoping to raise more than £5,000 for the Project Trust charity so he can spend a year teaching English in a primary school in Sri Lanka.

On Saturday, April 12, he raised more than £400 by cycling nearly 60 miles from Brecon to Penarth with the help of his dad and two of his friends.

Alex, of Cosmeston Drive, said that he was inspired to sign up for the volunteering work after representatives from Project Trust came to Stanwell School to talk about the work that they do in developing countries.

Alex had originally chosen to go to Uganda to carry out his gap year, but he was switched to Sri Lanka after government issues arose in the East African country.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“I have got family that live in Sri Lanka and they say it’s a great country to see.”

He added: “I will primarily be an English teacher, but I could also be teaching Maths, Science and more. Along with this I will also be responsible for organising extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs.”

Alex, who will embark on his year in Sri Lanka in August and is set to study Sociology at Birmingham University when he returns, said that he was “aching all over” the day after the charity cycle ride.

“The distance was probably the hardest part,” he said.

“By the time we got to Merthyr it was pretty intense as there were quite a few hills.”

Alex is also planning a number of other fundraisers, including a gig night at The Windsor pub on May 3, a quiz night and taking part in the Sully car boot sale.

You can sponsor Alex at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/alexanderhuntley

THREE PENARTHIANS are currently taking part in a charity bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats.

The team of six cyclists, Andy Plumpton, Matt Tucker, Tony Williams, Max Davies, Andy Wilson and Chris Bramley, began their 1,000 mile ride on Saturday, April 12, and are hoping to finish on Thursday, April 24.

All the money raised from the bike ride will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support.

Andy Plumpton, works at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport as a Speech and Language Therapist, treating patients who have diagnoses of head and neck cancer, said: “I see first-hand the fantastic support that Macmillan provides my patients, hence us selecting it as our chosen charity.”

Three of the members of the team are from Penarth, one of from Cardiff, and the other three are from England.

You can sponsor them at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/LEJOG6