Boy completes 230-mile charity cycle to Paralympics

"We didn't get lost, we just went the wrong way a few times," Dexter said

A 12-year-old boy has completed a charity cycle from Berkshire to Paris for the Paralympics.

Dexter left Woodley, in Reading, on Sunday and finished his 230-mile (370km) journey alongside his mum Sam and coach Dave Covey at 23:00 BST on Tuesday.

He has raised more than £8,000 for a group of charities, including Fanconi Hope, which supports children affected by fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disorder affecting bone marrow.

"It was really fun, we had a few direction issues but we made it there in the end," Dexter said.

Robert Dalgleish, from the charity Fanconi Hope, said: "We are so delighted to have Dexter fundraise for us."

He also raised money for Reading-based Sport in Mind, which uses physical activity to help those experiencing poor mental health, and WheelPower, which supports wheelchair users accessing sport.

Mum Sam (left) and coach Dave Covey (right) completed the challenge with Dexter

Dexter said they had a "few too many detours" that meant a section that should have been 69 miles (111km) turned into 101 miles (163 km).

"We didn't get lost, we just went the wrong way a few times," he said.

Dexter also said they cycled along the Seine for quite a while, which was "quite cool".

One of his highlights included cycling up a hill that was used in the Tour de France and had all of the names of the cyclists written on the road.

Another was entering Paris and seeing the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower in the distance, which he said "put a huge smile" on his face.

Afterwards Mr Dalgleish told Dexter: "The awareness of our rare condition is so important and you've really done amazing things at raising awareness.

"We're really proud to have you doing this for us."

Dexter said the challenge was "great and really fun" as well as a little tough in places