A BOY of 11 was so impressed by the work done by Kent's children's hospice he has given up weeks of his holiday to try to raise money for the charity with a 450km (280 miles) bike ride.

Christopher Alexander, a pupil at the King's School in Rochester, has followed in his brother's tracks, riding to raise funds. With his father Robin, a former Royal Engineers officer, Christopher has formed a cycling team to ride the Golden Circle around one of the world's greatest lakes, the Ijsselmeer in Holland.

Within a week of visiting the Demelza House hospice at Sittingbourne, Christopher had already raised £1,000 in sponsorship. Now he hopes that when he sets off early next month he and his father will collect between £3,000 and £4,000 to help the charity.

Planning has been going on for weeks and has brought travel sponsorship from rail companies in England and Holland, ferry operator Stena Lines, Dutch travel firms and Halfords, who are providing them with mini-computers for their bikes.

"This is all Christopher's idea," said Robin.

"He said after visiting the hospice that that was the organisation he wanted to help. I'm proud of him he's getting off his bottom and doing something for his own peer group."

No one escapes from the father and son team's endeavours.

Even when they are practising, they carry Demelza House collecting tins in case someone decides to support them. Chatham Historic Dockyard, where they live, is helping out by contacting neighbours and businesses to tell them of the duo's venture.

"I had a message the other day to phone a mobile number and when I got through it was a neighbour who was on holiday in Spain," said Robin. "When she gets back she wants to organise a welcome home party for us and the funds will go to the charity."

The ride starts and finishes in Amsterdam.