AN ISLAND schoolboy has risen to the Active Travel Challenge ­— and won a prize.

Queensgate Foundation Primary School pupil, Jack Chiverton, ten, has been awarded a new bike after winning a prize draw as part of the challenge.

The scheme — organised by Wight Cycle, in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council — encouraged students to walk, scoot or cycle to school on as many different days as they could between March 25 and 29.

A total of 34 schools took part in the Active Travel Week, clocking up a combined total of 13,264 sustainable journeys ­— 69 per cent of all journeys logged during the week.

Jack was fitted for his bike and helmet at Wight Cycle Hire, Yarmouth.

Jack said: "Thank you for my fantastic new bike, I'm looking forward to riding it to school and back home."

Headteacher, Samantha Sillito, said: “I am very pleased for Jack, and so proud of the Queensgate community. Active Travel week has great benefits for children, encouraging them to be healthy, active and environmentally friendly at the same time."

Wight Cycle is delivering its ‘Shift It’ project ­— promoting active sustainable travel to and from school ­— in partnership with the council, as part of the Access Fund for Sustainable Travel ­— a £1.3 million three-year sustainable transport programme.

Shift It project manager, Ross Edmunds, said: "Well done to Jack on winning the bike and we were more than happy to welcome him to Wight Cycle HQ for his bike fitting.

"The recent Active Travel Week Challenge was a great success and we are hoping our next challenge in July will encourage even more Island schools to help pupils and parents get on board."

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