A Coventry teenager wants to show he can see a challenge through to the end by finishing the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 on July 29.

Ash Green School student George Makings is taking on the challenge through the PruGOals programme, which is working with 500 youngsters aged 16-18 to build their confidence and encourage personal motivation.

Ash Green School got involved in the programme through national education charity, the Transformation Trust.

When George joined the school in Year 7 he had a distinct dislike of all sport and physical activity, but this changed when he started playing rugby.

He began participating at county level and encouraged many of his peers to join his local team, building a great bond by playing together over the past year.

George has now turned his sights to cycling and is determined to complete the 46-mile ride in London to improve his confidence through the PruGOals programme.

“I signed up for PruGOals because I wanted something that I could really see to through to the end and I wanted to push my abilities and see what I’m capable of,” he said.

“I feel this programme will help me strengthen myself and I can use these skills to carry on through to jobs, apprenticeships and college studies later in life.

“I have never been good at seeing things through until the end and I’ve always wanted to improve that motivation, but I’ve never had the opportunity to do so.

“My main goal is to complete it as I’ve never seen things through to the end and it would be a massive heartbreaker not to complete such a great campaign.”

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

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

As part of the programme, all of the participants have been given bikes, equipment, training and workshops on nutrition and well-being.

“The workshops have been great and I know they are there to help me, so if I can take on all that knowledge it will help me towards completing the ride,” said George.

“I’m really grateful for everything they’ve given me, from the bike to workshops and days out, I feel it’s really helped me increase my progress ahead of the ride.”

George was speaking at one of the PruGOals regional training rides at the University of Sheffield, where Dame Kelly Holmes was on hand to mentor the local students.

The PruGOals ambassador and double Olympic gold medallist, who has previously done the 46-mile ride, said: “I am really excited to be part of the PruGOals programme again.

“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