� The winners of last year’s Recorder Bikeathon Kidz trophy say they are hopeful of bagging the title for a second year in a row.

Hundreds of youngsters are gearing up for the biggest ever Bikeathon event on June 12, organised by the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and supported by the Recorder.

The teacher in charge of cycling at Christchurch Primary School, Wellesley Road, Ilford, says the school is encouraging all its older pupils to get on their bikes every day.

Travel plan co-ordinator Bhavini Bakhda said: “The Bikeathon is brilliant.

“Any sort of exercise that gets kids out and about and confident on their bicycle is a really good thing. We are really hopeful that we can get the trophy again this year, but it is going to be tough.”

Since victory last year the school has trained teachers to run a bike instruction session after school class, and have had visits from an organisation that trains youngsters to use their bikes safely.

Others contenders for the trophy are Our Lady of Lourdes School, Chestnut Drive, Wanstead and William Torbitt School, Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park.

Both have won in previous years by having the most riders in the event.

Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research hopes to raise more than �10,000, and organiser Steve Gowers urges all primary schools to get involved.

He said: “The preparations are going really well and we’re looking forward to seeing more people than last year.”

Mr Gowers said primary school teachers in the borough can contact him to arrange an information session at their school.

n Teachers should email spgowers@hotmail.co.uk, and more information can be found at www.bikeathonkidz.co.uk.