Caring Hartlepool boy Lewin spends his 8th birthday raising money to help others

Thumbs-up from Lewin on his big day of birthday celebrations and fundraising.

The ultra-caring youngster turned eight years old yesterday.

And he came up with a very special way of celebrating - by cycling around Hartlepool to help people suffering from cancer.

Mam, dad and sister Mia help Lewin to enjoy his special day.

He organised a 10-mile bike ride with his dad Suli and then pedalled through the streets of the town to raise money for Miles for Men.

The Barnard Grove Primary School pupil originally planned a £200 fundraising target as he wanted to help with the fight against breast cancer.

But at the last count, his total - of money raised online and offline - had reached £1,500 and rising.

His inspirational charity event saw him tackle a ten-mile route which started at Hartlepool Old Boys Rugby Club.

Then, he headed out around town on a route which took in Clavering, King Oswy, the Headland and Crimdon.

And he did it all on the new bike which he got for his birthday yesterday, with his dad Suli, who works at Tata Steel, riding all the way with him.

Proud mum Lynsey Tubuna, 34, who works at Hartlepool Power Station, said: “I am so proud of him. Mega proud. He has done really well and he has never done any fundraising before. This is something that he came up with.

“I said to him ‘why not do the Miles for Men run’ but he wanted to do something else on his own.

“And when I said ‘why don’t you do eight miles’ he said he wanted to round it up to ten.”

Suli and Lewin prepared for the big day by doing practice rides between five and ten miles long.

And Lynsey, who is also mum to two-year-old Mia, added: “Lewin is out with his friends on his bike as well.”

Friends and family gathered at the rugby club to send the riders on their way.

Proud Lewin did it all in his Miles for Men T-shirt. And there was a rousing reception for Lewin and his dad as they completed their journey.

Then, later in the day, Lewin was given a birthday reward of a well-deserved barbecue with his friends.

Miles for Men director Kevin Hill said: “What he has done is breathtaking. For an eight-year-old to raise this amount of money is brilliant.

“It shows the level of support that Miles for Men has in the town and it is great to have youngsters involved with the charity.”

To support Lewin’s fundraising drive, visit https://www.gofundme.com/2fbnuv88