When eight-year-old Sophia Sawyer helped rescue a nest of baby jackdaws, she was delighted to know they were going somewhere they would be looked after. Now that experience has inspired her to get on her bike and do something rather special for the people who helped them.

Sophia and her dad Ben are preparing to cycle more than 70 miles from King's Lynn to Cromer to raise money for the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre.

And this isn't going to be a quick Sunday afternoon pedal around the block.

The father and daughter will spend three days making their way along the North Norfolk coast, eventually finishing at Cromer Pier, with camping stops along the way.

The adventure begins on Friday, October 2, from the wildlife centre on Gayton Road.

Sophia came up with the fundraising idea herself, and the reason behind it goes back to an encounter with some rather small feathered patients last year.

A rescue that started something

Sophia and her family discovered a fallen nest containing baby jackdaws and stepped in to help.

The young birds were taken to East Winch Wildlife Centre for rehabilitation and the experience made quite an impression on Sophia.

Her mum Alexandra says it helped spark her daughter's growing passion for wildlife and conservation.

Sophia, who already has ambitions to become a vet, now enjoys visiting East Winch to see the seals and other animals being cared for there.

“When we saved the baby jackdaws and took them to the wildlife centre, I was really happy they were going to help them,” Sophia said.

“I would be really happy if I could raise £100 to help them buy food and medicine to help more rescued animals.”

It was a wonderfully sensible target.

There is just one small problem.

She's already beaten it.

That isn't stopping Sophia and her dad, though, and every additional pound raised will go towards caring for wildlife at East Winch.

Dad's coming too

Sophia won't be tackling the 70-plus miles alone.

Dad Ben will be alongside her for the entire ride and the pair have been training in preparation for their three-day journey.

Mum Alexandra and Sophia's six-year-old sister Florence have also been given important jobs as the family support crew.

They will transport the backpacks between overnight stops, meaning Sophia and Ben won't have to pedal along the coast carrying all their camping equipment.

Alexandra and Florence will head home each evening before setting out again the following morning to catch up with the cyclists.

And they'll have a collection bucket ready should anyone they meet along the way fancy adding a few pounds to Sophia's total.

“An absolute inspiration”

Sophia's challenge has certainly impressed the people she is raising the money for.

Evangelos Achilleos, manager at RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, said: “We cannot thank Sophia enough for taking on this incredible challenge in aid of our centre.

“It is truly heartening to see the younger generation so passionate about protecting British wildlife. Sophia is an absolute inspiration to us all.

“We wish her the best of luck with the ride, and we are profoundly grateful for her support. Every pound raised will directly care for the animals currently at our centre, including seals, hedgehogs, gulls, and many others.”

And Sophia's concern for the countryside doesn't begin and end with her bike ride.

The family have spent the past year litter picking around West Bilney Warren, close to where they live, helping clear rubbish from the woodland popular with local walkers.

“Conservation and animal wellbeing mean a lot to us as a family and Sophia has really taken the reins with this fundraiser,” Alexandra said.

There will undoubtedly be some tired legs by the time Sophia and Ben finally see Cromer Pier.

But for an eight-year-old who started out wanting to raise £100 because somebody helped a nest of baby jackdaws, 70 miles along the Norfolk coast is quite some way to say thank you.

And something tells us those animals at East Winch have found themselves a determined little champion.

Anyone who would like to support Sophia's challenge can donate through her Sophia Coast Cycle JustGiving page.