Hearty effort to ride

Photo: JUSTIN LATIF

SURVIVOR: Heart patient James Tonks will be riding in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge’s 5km Heart Ride on Saturday.

Photo: JUSTIN LATIF

BIG EFFORT: Ralph Ingley has raised almost $900 for children with heart problems.

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Two brave boys will join each other with a common goal on the starting line of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 5km Heart Ride this Saturday.

Ralph Ingley, 9, and James Tonks, 7, are doing the event to raise sponsorship and awareness for the Heart Children New Zealand charity.

James in particular owes the organisation a debt of gratitude.

The Glen Eden resident was born with a heart defect and had two major operations as a toddler to ensure he could have a normal life.

His mother Susie Trenwith says the charity helped the family through the traumatic exercise.

"Stars shine brightest in the darkest hours and it certainly is true of our experience," she says.

"Heart Children has been a shining star that’s supported our whole family. We’ve had access to a host of services and James has been able to do really cool things, like a Ferrari ride around the Pukekohe racetrack."

Seeing children like James recover from their health problems is a motivating factor for Ralph.

"Mum told me about it," he says. "I don’t want these kids to be sick and die."

The Sunderland School student has been training hard and reckons he’s cycled around 160km in preparation for the event.

People have already donated $885 and Ralph hopes to collect $1000.

His mother Alexis Newcombe will also be riding as part of a three-person team in the adult section of the cycle challenge.

Ralph says his mum has kept him motivated by offering treats after his training rides.

"It’s got easier as I’ve got stronger," he says. "And sometimes we’ve gone to McDonald’s or to a coffee shop which is cool."

Getting to meet James for the first time this week has given him extra inspiration.

"It was really cool," he says. "It was good to meet one of the heart kids that I’m doing this for."

- Both boys have individual fundraising pages online where donations can be made via credit card. See www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/ralphingley/ and www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/Jamestonks09/ for information.

- © Fairfax NZ News