A nine-year-old boy has raised over £2,000 for the British Heart Foundation by cycling 153 miles in memory of his dad, Sam Oatley, who died in 2024 from a heart attack.
Lewis Oatley, who goes to Vallis First School, completed 29 bike rides in and around Frome throughout June to raise funds for the cardiovascular research charity.
Initially, Lewis set out to cycle 100 miles but ended up exceeding his target. “He cycled near enough every day in June,” said his mum, Caroline. “It worked out that he cycled just over five miles every day.
“He would cycle to school on his bike and then cycle home and do an extra loop. He’s gone down the lanes by us and then longer rides by the cycle paths; he’s gone to football training and around the track there; he was doing extra laps before school and after. In the evenings we would just go and do six miles on the country lanes around Berkley.”
Speaking about his challenge, Lewis gave a presentation recently in assembly at school.
“In his own words, he said it had been fun and exciting and some of the journeys were tiring,” said Caroline.
“There were a couple of times when he said his legs were tired, but he has been so motivated to get on his bike and hasn’t moaned once. One day he did 13 miles and then got up and went out again with his brother around the green.
“He loves being on his bike and his dad always pushed being fit and healthy, so it feels like it all tied in nicely that he was doing something active.”
Lewis’ dad, Sam Oatley, was a well-known figure in the town, particularly within the football community.
Sam joined Frome Town United in 2021 initially to help with the club’s older boys’ group before becoming the assistant coach of the under-sevens team in 2022. When Sam died, football teams from around the area including Frome Collegians, Frome Town, Frome Town Women, Mells and Vobster, joined together with friends and family to celebrate his life.
Caroline said, “Sam bought Lewis the bike for one Christmas but then when he died, the bike was put away and Lewis did not use it. He then rediscovered the bike and then kept asking to go out on it. He would cycle around our garden and just loved being on it.
“I think it has given him a focus through dealing with everything and it has opened up a few more conversations. The challenge is something for him to own further on, that he’s done that in memory of his dad. I have made him a photobook of it all and all the different journeys.
“On the bike rides we would often say how proud his dad would be. I do think it has helped him and it is something he can feel really proud of. It has given him the confidence to know that he can challenge himself and he can do it.”
To help Lewis raise funds, visit their just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/lewis-cycle-challenge?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=WA#timeline-section-marker
