A KIND-HEARTED GCSE student is set to ride for six hours indoors in aid of a Bolton cause that is helping struggling families during the pandemic.

Jack Appleton will be riding indoors via online cycing app Zwift, which blends the fun of videogames with the intensity of serious training.

It will allow Jack to cycle through a virtual world.

The youngster has set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page for the challenge and money raised from it will go to Urban Outreach, which provides food and other support for Bolton families in need.

Jack said: “I feel that it is very important to raise money for families that are now unable to feed their children as free school meals are not going ahead and I think that helping these children’s families is very important.

“I want to help families, through this fundraiser, who may not be able to enjoy a Christmas dinner this year as I feel every family should be able to celebrate as it is such an exciting time of year for many families and especially young children.”

Jack, who is also preparing for his GCSEs at Albany Academy in Chorley, is a keen cyclist who has already been riding for more than 10 years.

He has taken inspiration from his cycling hero, Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who cycled 12 hours on Zwift in support of the NHS during the first lockdown.

Jack cycles to school every day and is also a member of Lusso Cycling Club but he has never ridden for as long as six hours before.

He said: “This will be extremely challenging for me and this will the longest ride that I have ever attempted.

"I have spent lots of my time training for this extremely challenging event, and hope that people will be able to support me and that will encourage me to keep pedalling.”

Jack’s head teacher Peter Mayland said: “We fundraise a lot at Albany Academy and encourage all our students to support their communities.

"This year we are focussing on supporting the homeless in our local area and it’s inspiring that Jack has decided to create this challenge for himself and is determined to help such a worthy cause.”

To donate to Jack's GoFundMe page click here.