WHEN Ledbury schoolboy Harry Martin lost a close friend to a brain tumour he was devastated but decided at once to tackle a major fund-raising challenge in her memory, and also for the charity which had helped her so much.

Harry, aged 12, a pupil at John Masefield High School, spent last Sunday tackling a "no skimping" bike ride of 50 miles around local lanes, on behalf of the Dreams and Wishes charity.

It was his way of saying thank you to the charity for helping his friend, Phoebe Taylor, who died on her 12th birthday, on May 6 last year.

Harry's mum, Georgia Martin said: "Phoebe Taylor was a family friend who never failed to inspire us with her wonderful positive attitude, her infectious laugh and her strong will.

"During the last two years of her life, with the help of the amazing charity 'Dreams and Wishes' she was able to meet her favourite band 'One Direction'; she attended the winners concert of X Factor where she met many of the X Factor stars; she visited the Harry Potter studios, and she toured the Houses of Parliament where she was allowed to lie on the bed where kings and queens had slept."

Phoebe hailed from Cardiff, but she and Harry would meet up during holidays and also stay in touch by social media.

Mrs Martin, of the New Mills estate, said: "When Phoebe died, you can imagine how Harry was devastated, even though he knew it was coming. But almost the first thing he said was, I would like to do something to remember her."

Mrs Martin added: "I asked him did he think about Phoebe while he was riding and he said ‘only when it hurt…’ she really did help him get through the race and the proof of that was in the weather - the rain stayed off until literally the minute the riders finished the full 50 miles.

"I have no doubt that Phoebe will have been looking down and giggling with joy at him."

Phoebe herself, who was determined to reach her 12th birthday, and achieved that wish, was no stranger to fund-raising herself.

When undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments, and while she was a "nil by mouth" patient, she did a cake bake for Children in Need, a selfless action which earned her a Blue Peter badge.

"That just sums her up," said Mrs Martin.

To celebrate her life, Harry announced that he was going to ride '50 for Phoebe' - a 50 mile bike ride around the Ledbury area.

This was accomplished on Sunday, May 1, through areas including Little Marcle, Dymock, Malvern and Colwall.

He had to train hard for the event, on which he was accompanied by his father, Graham; Justin Taylor, Phoebe's dad, and other friends and family members.

Mrs Martin said: "I feel so incredibly proud, I cannot say."

The cyclists were followed by a support van from the Rock and Road cycle business of Yeovil, and the business, run by family friends, had also measured out the course beforehand, so there was "no skimping".

The Dreams and Wishes Charity is "dedicated to making a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families".

The charity's aim is "to fulfill an ill child’s dreams; this could be through gifts, a holiday of a lifetime or giving them the chance to meet their favourite celebrity".

So far, Harry's selfless efforts have raised more than £750 for the charity.

Anyone wishing to add to that total should phone 01531 636602 or go to

https://www.justgiving.com/georgia-marting