A YOUNG Tavistock pupil will be showing off his pedal power next month as he aims to cycle 22 miles for charity — the longest cycle he’s ever attempted.

Nine-year-old Robin Reed will be taking to the Tarka Trail on March 14 to cycle from Okehampton to Torrington and back again — a total of 22 miles — to raise money and awareness for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Robin, a pupil at St Peter’s Junior School, is no stranger to setting himself fundraising challenges for charity, having climbed to the highest point on Dartmoor in March last year for the Alzheimier’s Society after his grandfather was diagnosed with dementia, organised a litter pick at Bovisand on Plymouth Sound for the Motor Neurone Disease Association after the family lost a friend to the disease and he is a regular volunteer for Tidy Tavi — Tavistock’s volunteer litter picking group — and received a Blue Peter badge for his litter picking efforts.

His latest challenge will see him cycle his longest distance to date for the brain tumour charity after a number of people close to his family have had experiences with brain tumours.

His mother Kate said: ‘Robin wanted to do a cycle ride for charity this year, so we all thought about what charity to raise money for. My sister’s brother-in-law is currently living with a brain tumour. They found it when he had a bike accident and they removed some of it but it has affected himquite badly.

‘Robin’s nan also had a benign tumour and one of our family friends’ mum died from a brain tumour so we thought it would be a good charity to support.’

The recent weather has been hindering Robin from getting out on his bike to practice, but he has managed to get a couple of training rides in.

The furthest he has ridden on his bike so far is 12 miles.

‘Robin will be doing the ride with his dad Ryan,’ Kate said. ‘They were trying to get me to do it too but I don’t think I could go that far. I’ll provide support and back up and supply the food and chocolate!

‘We’re very proud of Robin. He comes up with these ideas by himself — he doesn’t need any persuading.’

Robin has a target of reaching £200 for The Brain Tumour Charity on the JustGiving page he has set up.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally.

It is committed to saving and improving lives, finding new treatments, offering high levels of support and driving urgent change.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Robin can do so by visiting the fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RobinReed9