Neurodivergent students complete 1,000-mile cycle

BBC News

22-07-2025

A boy who completed a 1,000-mile (1,609km) cycle challenge says it shows neurodivergent people are "capable of anything".Lex, who has ADHD and dyslexia, took off from John O'Groats on 19 June to cycle to Land's End with a team of students aged 14-16 from Appleford School in Wiltshire.The Shrewton school is a specialist centre for children aged seven to 16 with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties such as dyspraxia and dyscalculia."It just shows we can do everything we want to and, as young people, we are entitled to do anything we want to," Lex added.
He told BBC Radio Wiltshire the whole challenge was "amazing" but he particularly loved Scotland."Seeing all the mountains and just the landscaping, it's so different to the south coast," he said.
The student completed the challenge with 11 other pupils from the school.Monty, who also took part, said he "loved all of it" and was missing getting on his bike every morning.While he was tired when the team finished, with his longest day being a 90-mile cycle, Monty said the whole experience was amazing.And for team member Aubrey, Dartmoor and the "rolling hills" were the highlight."I'm very glad I've been able to do it. The confidence throughout [the team] has risen," she said.
Lex's mum, Angela, said the challenge had helped the children "come out of their shells"."Two of them, on speech day, stood up and said what it meant to them and their story."Doing things like this, we've heard their voice for the first time," she added.Angela said the team's success was "awe-inspiring"."It's absolutely unbelievable what they've achieved. The students want to achieve something and make the most of every opportunity," she added.