FOUR young friends from Blackbird Leys have given up smoking for a gruelling cycle challenge in memory of a teenage leukaemia victim.

Conor Mullen, Declan Carr and cousins Sam and Jay Trinder, from Falcon Close, will cycle around 95 miles from Oxford to Bournemouth next month.

They are planning to raise thousands for Kamran’s Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital with help from intense training at Oxford Martial Arts Academy, Templars Square, Cowley.

Sam and Jay’s cousin, Sophie Whipp, was treated at the ward. The Oxford Academy pupil, of Greater Leys, lost her two-year battle with leukaemia in February last year.

Sam, 21, who is currently unemployed, has been training hard for the fundraising ride. He said: “It has been wicked. We all used to smoke, but now we have given up to improve our health.

“We have been friends our whole lives and used to go on bike rides for fun, but now we are trying to do 30 miles each week as well as the personal training sessions.”

Mr Trinder said the feat, which has so far raised more than £1,000, was giving him something to focus on. He said: “Jay and I are cousins, and one of our other cousins Sophie died in the ward last year.

“So we wanted to do something to raise some money for them.”

Friend Declan Carr, 17, added: “This has been a really hard challenge, but the training is going really well.

“We are grateful to the academy for getting us the help to get started.”

Liam Jones, who is training the boys at the Martial Arts Academy, said: “I was really impressed. They have given up smoking and seem very dedicated.

“At the academy, we are all about teaching people respect for themselves and others, and I think that’s what came across to us.

“They are doing it for a very worthy cause and a sense of achievement could go a long way in their lives.”

Youth worker Lex Francis, from the Falcon Road Shout! project, has worked with the young men for the past year.

She said: “I’m really proud of them. I can’t believe how dedicated they all are. This was something they wanted to do themselves to raise money and I’ve never seen them so enthusiastic.”

She added: “It has given them a focus. They were just so determined to do something in the memory of Sophie.”

The ride will begin on June 10.