WHEN young Bethany Jones decided to do a 10 mile sponsored bike ride around little did she know she would need lightning reactions to steer clear of deep water!

Her course around Pennington Flash and alongside the Leeds-Liverpool canal involved negotiating loose stones on the canal bank and waving to people on passing barges!

The 10-year-old from Lowton was accompanied by her mum Mandy, dad Chris and big brother Adam (17)as she set off from Lowton, along the canal path to Dover Lock and back.

A circuit of ‘The Flash’ completed the ride and afterwards Bethany managed to raise a brilliant £240 for the Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

Bethany said: “I know that I am very lucky and that some people are not as lucky as me. So I wanted to help them.”

Hospice Healthcare Assistant Hilda Barton said “Our patients will be thrilled to learn what Bethany has done for us and we can assure her that the money she has raised will be used to provide the specialist care they need. Support from all sectors of the community is essential for us, and for such a lovely young girl to go to all that effort is very much appreciated.”

Dad Chris concluded, “She was glad to recuperate with an ice-cream on the banks of the Flash and spend a little time watching the ducks and swans. Her legs were aching for a few days afterwards and she nearly fell in a couple of times as people on the barges were waving to her. We are all very proud of what she has done. She was thrilled to know that her efforts are appreciated by the Hospice.”