A YOUNG cyclist who rode from London to Paris to raise money for charity has been honoured at an awards ceremony.

Emma Degiorgio, 11, from Heybridge Basin, picked up a highly commended award at the Pride of Essex Awards.

She was rewarded for being one of the top five children in the Child of Courage category and her nomination came from her amazing fundraising efforts this year.

She has raised more than £3,000 for the Bloodwise charity and taken on epic cycle challenges including the Saracens 80-mile ride, the Evans Cycles Hatfield 89-mile event, the Evans Cycles Essex 101-mile ride and the London to Paris ride with her father in August.

Dad James said: “She’s a bit of a machine on a bike and she loves the fact she can do some incredible events and raise money for a brilliant cause too.

“Next year she wants to ride from London to Paris and home again – there seems to be no end to her ambition.

“Both myself and my wife Helen are incredibly proud of her achievements and to see her win some recognition was just lovely.

“She picked up a lovely certificate and goodie bag, but also a cash prize of £250.

“On the way home from the event, she asked if she could donate £150 of her prize to Bloodwise. We were blown away by her kind gesture.

“Emma is the epitome of showing what children can do if they put their mind to something.”

Emma enjoyed her evening at the ceremony which took place in Chelmsford.

She said: “It was an amazing evening, and I am very proud to have won an award.

“There was a lot of amazing people and I was so happy to have been included with such inspirational people.”