Twelve year old Patrick Kiehlmann, a pupil at St. Matthew’s Primary School in Bishopbriggs, is one of the youngest nominees to be shortlisted in this year’s Young Scot Awards.
The tenacious young cyclist has been recognised for his super-human efforts on two wheels which saw him raise more than £5k for Yorkhill Children’s Charity – the hospital where he received life-saving treatment in 2012.
Last October, during the school holiday Patrick, then only 11, cycled from Land’s End to John O'Groats, a distance of more than 1,050miles on quiet country roads, ascending more than the height of Mount Everest.
He has been shortlisted in the ‘Unsung Hero’ category of the awards and is up against two 21 year olds for the title. He will discover his fate at a night of celebration in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh on 30 April.
Patrick said, “The ride was the most rewarding experience of my life. I loved sharing the time on my bike with my dad, which was made possible with the support of family, friends and the generosity of strangers on the way. I would recommend to anyone who has a dream to try and make it real.”
Councillor Eric Gotts, Convener of the Council’s Education Committee, wished Patrick luck and said, “I think we can all learn a thing or two from Patrick and his determination to give something back. What he has achieved is nothing short of inspirational and I know everyone at St. Matthew’s and at the Council will wish him the best of luck.”
Find out more about Patrick and his exploits on his website: http://www.ride4recoveryuk.org.uk/
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Date: Thursday 16 April 2015