A Keynsham teenager is overcoming her severe anxiety by challenging herself to complete the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 on July 29.

Broadlands Academy student Lily Stephens is taking part in the PruGOals programme, which is working with 500 youngsters aged 16-18 to encourage personal motivation.

Broadlands Academy got involved in the programme through national education charity, the transformation trust.

It aims to empower young people to fulfil their potential, regardless of social or economic background, by preparing them to take on Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46.

Lily admits the ride is something she would have never considered or had the confidence to do before signing up for the PruGOals programme.

“I’ve gone from this very scared anxious person who doesn’t socialise to feeling so much more confident in myself, it’s crazy,” she said.

“It’s an opportunity I would have never got a chance to be a part of without signing up for PruGOals. It gives you so much drive and it’s such an amazing opportunity.

“My goal is to do the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 within three hours, which is pushing it 50mph for the whole thing, but I think with a lot of training I can do it.

“I’m going to gain a lot of confidence and social skills and I think the opportunity is just going to be so good for me. It’s going to show me the opportunities that are out there and make me more open to them.”

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

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

“When this opportunity came along I was so excited to get back on a bike and get cycling and we’ve done so much cycling, it’s really cool to be back doing it,” said Lily.

“I was one of the first people to say yes I’m definitely doing it, no matter what the date is, no matter what is going on, I’ll cancel everything to go.

“My mum suffers with severe anxiety, and so do I, and she can’t drive outside of our area so I’ve never been to London and don’t get to see much.

“I’ve never been far so to go into this extraordinary situation and do the ride through PruGOals is just amazing and it’s such a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

Speaking at one of the regional training rides at M Shed Conference Centre in Bristol, Lily said she cannot wait to feel the sense of pride when she crosses the finish line.

“I’m hoping that completing the ride will encourage me to be more social and know that I have the perseverance to push myself as far as I want,” she said.

“It has given me the chance to change myself for the better, to change my diet for the better, to change my attitude for the better and to be a better person for myself.”

PruGOals ambassador Kelly Holmes was at the training ride and said Lily was a perfect example of the opportunity that the programme gives the youngsters.

She 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