A TRIUMPHANT ten-year-old cycled from Oxford to Blenheim Palace and back again to raise money for Children in Need.

Rishaan Chari pedalled more than 50km on Sunday from his home in Iffley Village to the palace in Woodstock and back, passing through Sandford on Thames and Oxford city centre on the way.

The New College School pupil wanted to raise £500 for children who are in a worse off position than he is.

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Rishaan said: “All children should get basic provisions including food, shelter and toys.

“I am fortunate and am very thankful for everything I have.

“I would like to raise as much money as possible to help other children in need.”

The Year 6 pupil raised over £900 in the first 24 hours of his Just Giving page going live.

The donations on the page are now just shy of £1,800 - more than triple of his initial £500 target.

The avid cyclist has been riding a bike since he was two years old, but in the last two years took up the sport more seriously.

At the end of December 2020, Rishaan cycled 45km between Bath and Bristol, despite the fact it was cold and raining.

He added: “I love cycling, it is very good for exercising and so we go out quite often.

“When we go out we have a lot of fun.

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“After we cycled to Bristol, me and my dad decided to take it to the next level and this time do it for a good cause.”

Rishaan’s charity ride at the weekend, however, is the furthest he has travelled on his bicycle to date.

In the week leading up to his cross-county journey, Rishaan was cycling around Iffley Village to prepare.

Rishaan’s dad Raj Chari, who is a radiologist at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, accompanied Rishaan on his ride to the palace and said his son did ‘very, very well’ throughout the journey.

Rishaan wore a custom-made T-shirt throughout his cycle, made for him by friends, that had his name and the hashtag #rishaancares written on the back.

Mr Chari added: “Rishaan is our pride and joy.

“His kindness and compassion is commendable.

“He is a great role model for his younger brother and sister, and may his intent to help continue.”

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Rishaan was cheered on by his mother Simren Chari, his four-year-old sister Samayra, and his three-year-old brother Ronay.

Other family and friends also waited at the finish line to congratulate him on his journey.

Mrs Chari, who is a nurse at Oxford University Hospitals, said: “We are very proud of Rishaan and his initiative to help people in need.

“I hope his caring nature continues and moulds him as he grows into a young man.”

His father added: “Rishaan has always been kind towards other children

“He is a caring big brother to his siblings as well as having a reputation as a helpful boy to other children at his school.

“His natural choice of charity was for underprivileged children.”

To donate to Rishaan’s cause visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rishaan-chari

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