MINI BMX-ER STAGES ‘RAMPATHON’ TO HELP CATS PROTECTION COVENTRY
Source: Coventry Live (Extract)
Posted: April 17, 2021
A mini Bedworth BMX-er staged a ‘rampathon’ to help Cats Protection Coventry.
Harley Cuttiford spent just four hours completing 500 ramps on his skateboard and BMX at Coventry skatepark.
The eight-year-old carried out the wheelie-big challenge to help raise funds for Cats Protection Coventry.
He was inspired to help after he heard about Twinkle, a cat taken into the care of Cats Protection’s Coventry Branch, from his mum Debbie who volunteers for the charity.
Twinkle, who is also eight-years-old, arrived at the charity when her owner had to go into a care home and could not take Twinkle with her.
Branch volunteers noticed tabby Twinkle had a lump on her back which needed veterinary attention.
The surgical investigation revealed the lump far larger than expected, resulting in a more invasive operation for Twinkle than predicted which included a sizeable incision and longer recovery.
Harley heard about Twinkle’s ordeal and the mounting vet bills, which exceeded £700, and decided to help with the costs himself.
It hit home even further for the schoolboy due to his love for his own best friend, black-and-white cat Remi, who helped him through lockdown.
“I love Remi and was really sad when I heard about Twinkle. I’m really happy to have helped her and the other cats too,” he said.
“It wasn’t hard to do the skating in the end so I did it in all in one go.”
He set himself the target of completing 500 ramps, hoping to raise £1 for every ramp to make a total of £500.
But this was smashed – and the total has now topped £1,000, with donations coming in from as far away as Australia.
“Harley’s Dad and I are incredibly proud of him,” said his proud mum.
“He spends as much time as he can at the park, it’s his real passion and so it was an obvious choice to combine the things he loves, cats and skating, when he said he wanted to help Twinkle.
“I don’t think he really realises how amazingly he’s done and what a fantastic amount of money he’s raised. He’s so laid back, he just takes things in his stride. When he heard about Twinkle it was completely natural for him to work out what he could do to help and just do it. We really are so very proud.”