A Brampton Manor Academy student is hoping to boost her self-esteem by completing the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46.
Marvelous Nwandu, 15, is taking part in the PruGOals programme, which is working with 500 youngsters aged 16-18 to build their confidence and encourage personal motivation.
The East Ham teenager has set herself a time of five hours to complete the ride on July 29 and hopes to take the skills she’s learned from the programme into everyday life.
“What’s so good about PruGOals is that I’ve been exposed to something that I’ve never been exposed to before and it’s really good for young kids,” she said, during a regional training ride at the Lee Valley Velodrome in Stratford as part of the PruGOals campaign.
“At this age you’re either exposed to the bad things or the good things and I feel like this is really good in not only boosting your self-esteem but your outwards image to the world because we need to present ourselves to everyone.
“It’s great to meet new people every single day and I wouldn’t have that if I was sitting at home so it’s beneficial for me.
“I’m already quite a bubbly person but I’ve felt very comfortable here and speaking to people from all over the place.”
Marvelous has revelled in the challenge of attempting to complete the 46 miles and claims it has given structure to her life.
Prudential’s PruGOals programme is run in partnership with charity partners Greenhouse Sports, Transformation Trust, Centre Point, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and Teach First.
The role of the partnership is to empower young people to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential regardless of social or economic background.
In her role as PruGOals ambassador, Dame Kelly Holmes was at the regional training rides to mentor the youngsters and to encourage them on their aspirational journey.
Listening to the double Olympic gold medallist deliver a speech was a privilege, according to Marvelous, who hopes to use Dame Kelly’s words of wisdom as inspiration for the big day in July.
“It was pretty amazing to meet Kelly,” the teenager added.
“I didn’t expect us to have a guest come through. I just told my friend how excited I was it and it’s awe-inspiring to be honest.
“They’ve been through it and it was amazing to have her talking just to us. Usually you just see her on television.
“When I saw her I actually thought ‘I can do these 46 miles’ so it’s really inspiring in that sense.”
PruGOals is an initiative set up by Prudential to empower young people to drive their ambitions and fulfil their potential regardless of social or economic background. For more information, visit prugoals.co.uk
