AN AVID fundraiser hopped on his bike and pedalled for 24 hours to raise funds for his former primary school.
Mikey Akers, from Balsall Common, took on his latest challenge to help raise £30,000 for Balsall Common Primary School fund its Fabulous Phonics initiative to help children with special educational needs (SEN).
It also coincided with e Verbal Dyspraxia Day – a condition Mikey has and over the years he has championed initiatives to raise awareness and help others like him.
During his bikeathon at The Gym in Shirley he had Solihull Mayor, Coun Ken Meeson, Paralympian Darren Harris and ex Coventry City player David Busst as well family and friends cheering him on.
Mikey said: “Staying awake for more than 24 hours was the hardest part of the event.
“It was worth it when you think of all the children that the money raised will support through phonics when learning to read.
“The bikeathon ran very smoothly thanks to all the support from the sponsors, gym staff and the people who turned up to take a turn on a bike.”
So far the Fabulous Phonics initiative has raised just over £2,300.
Mikey was recently chosen to be one of the Baton Bearers for the Commonwealth games.
Howard Rose, director of funding and publicity at Central School’s Trust, said: “This is another great example of how education and business can work together to benefit such a worthwhile cause, thank you to Chris Power and his team at The Gym and everyone else that supported this event.”
Mikey first decided he wanted to raise awareness and money for those affected by verbal dyspraxia when he wrote an inspiring and special poem about the disorder when he was 13-years-old.
In 2015 he set up ‘Mikey’s Wish’ as part of his mission to stop other young people with the disorder from feeling the same way he did growing up.
When Mikey was 16 he received a letter from then Prime Minister Theresa May praising him for the work he has done to raise awareness of Verbal Dyspraxia.
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