98-year-old launches fundraiser for charity her great grandmother set up in 1887

A 98-year old woman has launched an indoor cycling event to raise money for the homelessness charity her great grandmother set up in 1887.

Diana O’Flynn is looking raise funds for West London Mission, the charity that was set up towards the end of Queen Victoria’s reign by her great grandmother Katherine Price Hughes.

O’Flynn’s granddaughter Jovie McMillan said: “During lockdown, my grandmother asked me to purchase her an exercise bike.

“She was used to daily walks and adventures and found the change of pace difficult to adjust to. Those who know her will not be surprised by this. She was always off doing something and usually raising money for charity along the way.

“This is a woman who finds it difficult to stay still. She asked me if there was any way of her doing a sponsored ‘bike ride’. So here we are folks, an incredible 98-year-old lady would like you to sponsor her as she cycles on the spot!

“Frankly doing anything close to this at 98 is a feat all by itself and deserves a few pennies.”

During the sponsored event O’Flynn aims to cycle for at least half an hour a day until the end of June over an 80-day period.

She has already raised £1,635, well above her initial target of £1,000.

O’Flynn’s sponsored event echoes the achievements of the late Captain Tom Moore, who raised a record breaking £38.9m for NHS Charities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.