AN ADVENTUROUS 17-year-old faced the mammoth challenge of cycling 350 miles from Kendal to the House of Commons in London.

But Ben O'Keeffe, from Langham Road, Blackburn, is more than just an average athlete.

The cheerful student is a quadriplegic and is confined to a wheelchair. He began the journey with other young people with disabilities and completed the ride, organised by Barnardos as part of National Cycling Week, on Friday.

They used revolutionary "tandem" wheelchair-bicycles which can be powered by a hand attachment or they were pulled by a bike ridden by another person.

When the group arrived on Friday they were taken on a guided tour of the Commons building by Michael Jopling MP.

Ben attends Beaumont College, Lancaster where he is currently on a self living course and spends his holidays at the Barnardos Barrows Green Holiday Centre, Kendal.

He has been included in many Barnardos activities, including "climbing" Ben Nevis in a special sedan chair, riding in a pony and trap and has appeared on television several times to help promote the charity's work.

"He is chosen because he's always so cheerful," said his father, Paul.

"He helps to show the facilities for people in wheelchairs.

"Barnardos are absolutely brilliant. When he goes to Kendal he's been sailing and canoeing up there, it's amazing. They give him a life which you couldn't as parents ever dream of."

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