WHILE the lockdown has taken away a lot of youngsters' normal team sport and exercise activities, some have decided to get active by signing up for an ambitious challenge.

The Steve Prescott Foundation has seen a 59-strong team take up the mantle for its 'virtual' Wembley lockdown challenge.

With the Challenge Cup final postponed this year, supporters can walk, run, cycle or travel in any other bizarre way to cover the distance from their hometown club to Wembley Stadium.

Among those who have signed up for the challenge are some active youngsters.

AJ White, from Eccleston, is nine years old and, along with support of his family, is cycling on average nine miles a day around town to cover the distance of 216 from his beloved Saints to Wembley.

The St Julie's pupil has produced a series of videos and had his picture taken at the Steve Prescott Bridge.

He has already amassed more than £1,200 in donations and is well on his way to completing his mammoth task.

See justgiving.com/fundraising/AJ-White

St Helens Star:

Meanwhile, seven-year-old Harrison McGowan, who along with his family is heavily involved in Haydock ARLFC, is taking on the challenge.

Harrison has also 216 miles to travel and is going to do this by supporting his mum Jane who is taking part in the Walk All Over Cancer Challenge which is 10,000 steps a day throughout June.

After completing the 10,000 steps Harrison then goes out on his bike with his father Terry for a six to seven mile cycle to boost up his daily mileage.

See justgiving.com/fundraising/Harrisonwalkstowembley

Martin Blondel, from the Steve Prescott Foundation, said: “It is absolutely incredible to see the youth of today take on this incredible virtual challenge.

"To see them all get stuck in and tackle this challenge head on is really inspiring and emotional too. Steve would be elated to see families working together and improving each other’s health and well-being.

"Once again it is over coming adversity, turning a testing situation into a positive. In a time when we hear a lot of negatives about our youth of today it is easy to overlook all the great youngsters we have and the SPF are truly blessed by having support like this.”