AN Alton teenager is preparing to take part in a charity bike ride this month to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Lord Wandsworth College student Ollie Lewis, 14, is taking part in a London-Paris charity bike ride in place of his uncle, who was left in a coma after having an accident while training for the ride. And he is looking to raise as much money as possible in tribute to his uncle.

Mark Lewis, 50, who lives in Wiltshire with his wife Lynn and two children Christopher and Harry, had organised a team of more than 40 friends and work colleagues to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital by cycling from London to Paris from July 21-24.

But while training for the ride near Chippenham, Mark lost control of his bike and had an accident, suffering catastrophic injuries. He has been in a coma since May 26 and is in hospital at Salisbury Odstock Hospital, having initially been cared for at Bristol Southmead Hospital.

Determined to ensure the bike ride goes ahead as planned and they raise as much money for charity as possible, Mark’s brother, John, has taken over the leadership of the team, and his son – Mark’s 14-year-old nephew Ollie – is joining the ride in his uncle’s place. The team has been renamed Mark’s Riders and are ‘Riding for Mark’.

Ollie has already raised more than £1,600 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and is trying to raise as much money as possible in tribute to his uncle.

He said: “I’m proud to be riding to Paris on behalf of my Uncle Mark. I’ve been training hard and really hope I can make the distance.”

Dad John Lewis said of his brother: “Mark has put a huge amount of work into organising the trip and is passionate about raising much-needed funds for his chosen charity Great Ormond Street Hospital. He has paid dearly for that endeavour, but I know would want his work to be carried on.”

To support Ollie on his ride and donate to Great Ormond Street Hospital, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ollie-lewis.