A teenager from Bridgend wants to prove he can achieve anything he sets his mind to by completing the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 on July 29.

Darryl Moore is taking on the challenge through PruGOals, which is working with 500 youngsters aged 16-18 to build their confidence and encourage personal motivation.

The aim of the programme is to empower young people to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential, regardless of social or economic background.

Darryl signed up for the initiative through the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, which is one of five charity partners involved in the PruGOals programme.

“PruGOals has done a lot for me, I didn’t have any opportunity like this before I was contacted by the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and PruGOals,” he said.

“It’s a new opportunity for people who may not have got the opportunity otherwise. It gives people an incentive and says you can do things you don’t expect you can do.

“I haven’t set a time goal, my goal is just to finish the ride as I’m new to all this road riding, I’m not really familiar with it, and I just want to finish the ride.

“I want to finish it with my friends and I’d like to support people through the ride, so if there’s people struggling I want to push people on together.”

In addition to Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, PruGOals is run in partnership with charity partners Greenhouse Sports, Transformation Trust, Centre Point and Teach First.

As part of the programme, all of the participants have been provided with bikes, equipment, training and nutrition and well-being advice.

“The equipment has been absolutely fantastic, no ordinary people are going to get equipment of this standard for absolutely nothing,” Darryl added.

“PruGOals has also taught me to set goals that are higher than I think, because from time to time I have really doubted myself.

“This programme has taught me that I can physically do a lot more than my mind is telling me I can do, so I can set higher goals and hopefully achieve those goals.”

Darryl was speaking at one of the PruGOals regional training rides at M Shed Conference Centre in Bristol, where Dame Kelly Holmes was on hand to mentor the local students.

As part of her role as a PruGOals ambassador, the double Olympic gold medallist discussed her journey to becoming one of Great Britain’s most successful athletes.

“I am really excited to be part of the PruGOals programme again,” she said. “It’s great to inspire these young people to overcome the challenges in front of them and show there are opportunities for everyone, no matter what their background is.”

Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46, part of the world’s greatest festival of cycling, is a 46-mile ride on traffic free roads, which finishes on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

Dame Kelly Holmes was speaking at the PruGOals training rides, an initiative set up by Prudential to empower young people to drive their ambitions and fulfil their potential regardless of social or economic background. For more information, visit prugoals.co.uk