THREE head teachers and a school site manager have raised more than £6,000 by cycling from Cambridge to Writtle on the Tour de France route.
The 64-mile ride was made to collect cash for charities chosen by nine-year-old Katy Kyriacou, who has been fighting leukaemia following a diagnosis in August last year.
Katy, the daughter of Phil Kyriacou, head of Kings Road Primary School in Chelmsford, joined her dad, plus Nick Taylor, head teacher of her school Writtle Juniors, the school's site manager Mark Turner, who is also Katy's godfather, and their friend, head of Ingatestone and Fryerning Juniors, Neil Taggart, for the final mile of the ride.
Katy's brother Sam, 11, was also part of the convoy which rode into the grounds of Writtle Juniors amid cheers from assembled pupils and staff.
"Katy was a bit embarrassed by all the attention and was not sure she was going to do the last mile of the ride, but she decided at the last minute," said Mr Kyriacou, who admits the past ten months has been tough for the family.
He explained how the family of five, which also includes mum Sue and daughter Sophie, four, were on holiday in Lanzarote last August when Katy complained of pains in her legs and feeling lethargic and achy.
He said: "She just did not want to go in the pool or play any sport, or show much interest in doing anything. A friend booked a doctor's appointment for us which we went to as soon as we got home. That was at 2pm, and at 7.30pm the same day we were at Addenbrooke's Hospital being told Katy had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
"It was a complete shock. The symptoms appear to be simply growing pains and as a parent you would never think it could be something this serious."
Katy has undergone intensive chemotherapy and is now on a maintenance programme which will continue until 2016. Her visits to Addenbrooke's, although still regular, are becoming fewer and she has just completed three full weeks back at school.
Mr Kyriacou said: "We have been very lucky in having very supportive friends and family and I have a great team at Kings Road who have helped me in school so much these past few months."
It was Katy's godfather Mark Turner who suggested the bike ride. Katy asked that half of the money go to the wards at Addenbrooke's where she has been treated, and the other to a charity called Cyclists Fighting Cancer, which provides adapted bikes for youngsters suffering the ill effects of the disease.
Mr Kyriacou added: "The ride was good. We had done a bit of training."
To make a donation, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/KatyK
