A BIG-HEARTED teacher and his pals hope to give seriously ill kids a boost after raising £8,500 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Adam Smith, aged 33, a keen triathlete and sports teacher, and his friends took part in a 160-mile sponsored cycle from Weymouth to Wordsley to raise money for the hospital - which has cared for Adam’s brave little nephew Ross Parkes, who is battling leukaemia.

The team - also comprising Richard Payne, David Bristow and Alan Dixon from Wollaston, Dan Philpotts from Nottingham and Andy Lunn from Cambridge - nicknamed themselves Ross’s Riders and together they have raised nearly triple their original £3,000 target.

Ross’s mum Tina Parkes, of Newbury Road, said: “We’ve been so overwhelmed by everybody’s generosity. And we’re so grateful for the effort and commitment from the riders.”

She said the team plan to buy equipment such as Playstations, Nintendo Wiis and games to keep youngsters entertained at the hospital, where Ross has been treated for the past year.

The four-year-old, who started school at Ashwood Park Primary in September, is currently in remission after undergoing chemotherapy for a year. But he still has two years of treatment ahead of him.

Tina said a slice of the money would also go towards buying items for New Cross Hospital - where Ross has also spent many hours.