A negative comment on local social media motivated four youngsters to fight for better sports facilities in their village just outside Ipswich.
Harry Woollard, 13, Liam Baldry, 14, Zack Bickers, 14, and Cody Harvey, 14, joined forces to improve the existing jumps on the bike track in Bramford.
The group of friends started their campaign in response to a resident’s comment on Facebook, who assumed they were misbehaving while playing in the park and trying to develop the facilities by themselves.
Cody, with the help of his mum Kerry-Louise Harvey, created a petition that encourages the residents to have their say in the project that requests a new and improved bike track for children and adults to enjoy.
Cody and Harry spent the last days knocking on doors around the village, explaining their ideas to neighbours and getting their signatures of support.
Zack’s mum, Claire Bickers, helped the boys create an online petition, which can be found here.
They already collected more than 200 signatures in less than a week.
The boys, who currently attend Claydon High School, will take part in a parish council meeting on October 16 to put their ideas across.
They said that a suitable track in the village would encourage all children to get outside in nature, helping to improve their physical and mental health, and it would provide a dedicated space for teens to socialise while having fun safely, therefore reducing the possibilities of any antisocial behaviour created from boredom.
Boys are hoping to add more jumps and ramps as well as extend the existing track to welcome boys and girls of all ages and abilities to use the facility.
They named the project Bramford wheels track.
Harry’s mum, Amy Woollard, said: “The boys have made all of us parents immensely proud of what they have achieved so far and the commitment they have shown to putting their ideas into motion.”
Liam Baldry added: “I'm very excited that so many people are signing our petition because everybody, not just people from Bramford, will be able to use the facilities.
“We are very proud of our village, and we want to make it even better through this project.”
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