Six-year-old Ray taking Lambeth streets by storm
An intrepid six-year-old has played the Beat the Street Lambeth game and raised £135 for his school library along the way.
Ray Whibicks, of Helix Road, Brixton is one of 7,000 residents playing the physical activity challenge that has turned the entire borough into a real-life game.
Since the Sudbourne Primary School pupil found out about the game he made it his mission to cycle to every single one of the 135 special sensors called Beat Boxes that have been affixed to lampposts to measure how far participants are walking, cycling and running.
As well as getting more active, Ray is using the Beat the Street experience to help raise money for his school’s library.
His mum, Laura, said: “My son has had us out on our bikes ever since trying to find every Beat Box. I’ve never seen him so happy and inspired.
“Ray has just tapped into the last Beat Box – he’s now cycled to every one in Lambeth at least once. South Lambeth has some big hills. We’ve now done 100 miles of cycling in two weeks.
“He’s still determined to keep cycling to get as many points as possible, so thank you for the motivation. We are loving finding every Beat Box and exploring Lambeth together.
Participants have together walked, cycled, wheeled, run and scooted an incredible 40,000 miles so far.
Anyone of any age is invited to take part and you can still get involved now by picking up a card from one of the distribution points found at www.beatthestreet.me/lambeth .
You can join an existing school, community group or workplace team or you can set up your own. The competition runs until August 3.
Councillor Donatus Anyanwu, Lambeth’s cabinet member for Stronger Communities, Leisure and Sports, said: “The aim of Beat the Street is to encourage communities to become more active and to incorporate healthy habits into their lifestyles over the long-term. Beat the Street is a fantastic, free-to-enter initiative and anyone can get involved. “
The Beat the Street challenge has entered its Go Active-themed week to encourage participants to find new activities and sports to try out.
Pictured top: Ray Whibicks in full Beat the Streets mode (Picture: Laura Whibicks)
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