By David Claridge

For a lot of people, this May meant finding new ways to go about their days.

With sporting clubs and gyms shut down, people who were motivated enough to keep in shape got outdoors.

A local boy, seven-year-old Wilfred McKibben, wanted to do more than just ride his bike outside.

Wilfred was inspired one night while watching the news.

‘I saw Captain Tom Moore on the TV raising money and I thought I could do it too,’ said Wilfred.

UK war veteran, Captain Sir Thomas Moore, received international recognition for raising money for health services in the lead up to his 100th birthday by doing laps in his yard.

Wilfred is involved in BMX club racing and wanted to keep riding while everything was on hold.

Mother Jackie McKibben explained how they went about their own fundraising.

‘We started a Facebook page, Pedal for Pods. From there, people shared it. There was word of mouth and media coverage,’ she said.

Wilfred, with the help of his family, raised over $6,000 for Launceston’s homeless.

The McKibben family’s chosen charity, Strike It Out, fits out shipping containers with sleep pods.

Wilfred’s original target of raising $1,500 and riding 150km turned into $6,340 and more than 320km, riding with family around Prospect and other areas – some of those kilometres up very steep hills.

‘It’s amazing what he did. We’re very proud of him to be able to have that compassion and recognise it, seeing Captain Tom on the news.

‘And actually not only achieve, but smash his goals.

‘He is a lovely little boy,’ said Jackie.