A BRAVE Pantyffynnon schoolboy has pledged to take on 100 challenges to raise money for a children's hospital which has helped support his family.

Nine-year-old Ioan Sutherland, who has spina bifida and has used a wheelchair since the age of two, will undertake the challenges in support of the Noah's Ark Children's hospital in Cardiff.

Ioan's mother Khadine said the idea came from an evening watching the Pride of Britain Awards, which honours British people who have acted bravely or extraordinarily in challenging situations.

She explains: "There was a little boy receiving an award after raising money for charity. Ioan turned to me and said 'I can do that', so he came up with the idea of taking on 100 challenges.

"Since he was born, Ioan has had hundreds of hospital appointments with various consultants and most of them at the Noah's Ark Children's hospital. We get to stay in the Ronald McDonald house when Ioan is there which gives him a lot of comfort."

Ioan's first challenge saw him wheel from the Amman United Rugby Club in Glanaman to his mother's ice cream parlour, Briez, in Ammanford, while dressed as an elf and supported by his brothers.

Ioan's second challenge saw him take part in a sponsored silence. "This was very difficult for Ioan," said Khadine. "He actually found it more difficult than the first, he doesn't stop talking."

Ioan's latest challenge was in the form of a "Bush Tucker Trial".

Khadine explains, "My mother has done something very similar before so she organised this one. Ioan did very well and earned himself 11 stars."

Ioan, a Parcyrhun school pupil, hopes to complete the challenges and raise £1,000 by Easter.

"Ioan has a big operation in the spring, so this is taking his mind away from that," said Khadine. "The family are so proud of him and he has already gained so much support. Some challenges will be more difficult than others but Ioan always likes to push himself so I know his determination will help him see this through."

If you would like to sponsor Ioan you can head to his just giving page here

Sponsor forms are also available at Briez ice cream parlour, High Street, Ammanford.

You can also follow Ioan's challenge efforts through his Facebook page Ioans charity challenges or his YouTube channel Ioans 100 challenges.