A Blackpool school student with aspirations of becoming a fire fighter believes training for this summer’s Prudential RideLondon will be perfect preparation for reaching his dream job.

Ethan Kay, who studies at St Mary’s Catholic Academy Sixth Form, is no stranger to the saddle, but is giving himself a completely new challenge on July 30 – riding through the streets of London and Surrey.

The 17-year-old will be among thousands taking to the start line for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46, riding 46 miles in the world’s biggest cycling festival, taking in the iconic sights of the capital on completely traffic-free roads.

Kay was also at the regional launch of the 2017 PruGOals programme in Harrogate, where he was joined by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, and left in awe at meeting a gold medallist who he had only ever seen videos of in the past.

“I’m hoping to be a fireman so I think this will be a good way to get fit for it,” said Kay. “My goal is to get fit, get ready for the fire service, being as ready as I can for things like the bleep test, so taking part in this gives me something to focus on.

“I’m really excited about seeing London, I’ve not been that often and it will be really good to see the sights, see everything there is to see while being able to ride around.

“I’ve only ever been cycling with my dad, we used to go for a ride after school almost every day, and a year ago we did a 30-mile ride all around the countryside.

“I’ve seen videos of Dame Kelly’s runs and it’s really admirable what she’s done, how she’s got two gold medals. I was only young at the time, but I’ve seen them on YouTube and it’s pretty amazing.

“It lets me know that even if you’ve never cycled before that you can still do this, if you train hard.”

Double Olympic gold medallist Holmes took part in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 on its maiden ride last year, and has now joined forces with Prudential and education charity Teach First.

Their initiative will see 260 students and 40 teachers provided with bikes, equipment, training and nutrition advice as part of the PruGOals programme, boosting the wellbeing and employability skills of young people.

The aim is to also encourage young adults to set their own goals, helping them to achieve what they thought might not have been possible.

For Holmes, whose success came at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the importance of setting goals is not something that can be underestimated at any level.

She said: “My role is to give an insight from making the transition from a runner to a cyclist and I’m hoping I can pass on my experiences as an ex-international athlete, as well as somebody who has worked with young people.

“They need a focal point in which to believe in themselves, to set themselves ambitious goals and then go and achieve them, and that’s something we want to do as part of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46.

“It’s so important to show young people there are opportunities for everyone, no matter what their background is, to give them the opportunity to make changes in themselves and feel like they can achieve.

“You have to set yourself goals and then believe you can achieve it. Once you do that then it feels amazing, and that’s what I felt after taking part last year.”

Dame Kelly Holmes was speaking at the regional launch of PruGOals, a partnership between Prudential and Teach First which aims to empower young people to drive their ambitions and fulfil their potential regardless of social or economic background. For more information, visit www.prugoals.co.uk/prugoals