Three sisters will set off on a sponsored bike ride to support a charity that helped their teacher as she battled cancer.
Iyla, Amelia and Leila Ahmed will cycle eight miles through London tomorrow to raise money for Albion in the Community, which provided care for their teacher at Brighton Girls Prep school Heather Bates.
The girls will be among thousands taking part in the RideLondon Freecycle event as they ride through the capital.
Iyla, ten, Amelia, seven, and Leila, four, will complete the route twice and have so far raised £335 - surpassing their initial £100 target.
Ms Bates said she was touched by the girls’ thoughtfulness.
She said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Iyla, Amelia and Leila are doing this impressive bike ride to raise money.
“Albion in the Community is a brilliant charity which does so much good work. I cannot praise it enough. They really supported me when I was going through cancer treatment in 2020/21.
“I was assigned a lovely coach who had regular check-ins with me over that year.
“One of the many things they do is to run exercise classes for people going through treatment, which I really enjoyed and made me feel more like me.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching all three girls and know how thoughtful and determined they are.
“They are a real credit to the school and really embody our values. I will be with them 100 per cent in spirit on Sunday.”
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The girls’ father Ishtiaq Ahmed, a cardiac surgeon at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, said: “Amelia was keen to choose a charity supported by her school - Albion in the Community.
“This charity was also particularly important to the girls as it provided support for one of their teachers when she had cancer diagnosed.
“She has been involved with all three girls and they love her varied lessons on anything from wellbeing and yoga classes to learning about historic explorers, whale sharks, the life cycle of penguins, recycling and looking after the planet.
“The girls love riding their bikes and to have an opportunity to participate in RideLondon was one they did not want to miss.
“The eldest two have done it in two previous years but Leila who is just four has been asking for some time - it has become a bit of a tradition for me to take them each year.
“I am incredibly proud of them for taking part. They are very motivated to do it, especially as they have seen the sponsorship pledges accumulating.”
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Brighton Girls Prep head Laura Comerford said: “We’re bursting with pride about what the girls are doing.
“Albion in the Community is our chosen charity this year and the support they are giving to it has extra resonance because of Mrs Bates.
“They are still so young yet they are showing extraordinary empathy, settings a wonderful example to their peers.”
Donations to the girls’ fundraiser can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amelia-23.
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