Disabled children will get a new sensory garden thanks to fundraisers who cycled 26 miles to raise more than £8,000.
A marathon bike ride was organised by Gil Cooray, manager of JJ Moons pub, with teacher Janet Lobb and Kerry Adamantiou from Grangewood School in Eastcote.
The school, in Fore Street, looks forward to starting work on a special garden costing £80,000 next month.
It will provide children at the school, who have severe learning difficulties, a playground that is designed for their specific needs.
The bike ride took place on September 1 and ran from the school, through Northwood and Ruislip, to finish at Mr Cooray’s pub in Victoria Road, Ruislip Manor.
At a presentation event on Monday night last week, the pub manager announced the total so far was £8,400.
He thanked school staff, including former staff member Veda Rogers, who gave Mr Cooray the push to organise a fundraiser, as well as the council and Hillingdon Athletics Club, and staff at JJ Moons.
At the presentation evening, the Barclays Bank community fund made a donation matching £1,050 raised through two raffles in aid of the garden.
Paralympian Natasha Baker waved off the riders on the day and Mr Cooray gave his biggest
thanks to the many cyclists who took part.
“It wasn’t just that day, it was the days, weeks and months that everybody put in beforehand to train for the ride,” he said.
John Ayres is principal of Grangewood School, which is part of The Eden Academy. “I would like to say a special thank you to Kerry and Janet who set this whole thing off,” he said.
“The sensory garden is going to provide a special relaxation space for children and it’s going to have a real impact on the lives of every child at Grangewood.”
