A MILFORD HAVEN teenager was invited to a special reception in Town Hall on Tuesday, December 3 in recognition of her incredible fundraising efforts.

Bethany Freeman, who has Down’s Syndrome, was one of five young people taking part in The One Show’s Team Rickshaw challenge to raise money for Children in Need.

The determined 16-year-old pedalled 700 miles in just eight days, accompanied by her mum Amanda and TV presenter Alex Jones.

At just 4’ 11”, Portfield School pupil Bethany was the shortest rider of the group, and had to wear platform trainers just to reach the rickshaw’s pedals.

The team set off from the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland on November 8, and travelled through Scotland, into Wales, and then on to the finish line on TV’s ‘Albert Square’ during the live BBC Children in Need show on Friday, November 16.

Started in 2011, The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge has raised millions of pounds for Children in Need, with this year’s effort bagging more than £1.3million in donations.

The Mayor of Milford Haven, Councillor Yvonne Southwell invited Bethany and her family to a reception in her chamber on Tuesday afternoon, where she was presented with a civic award.

Cllr Southwell, said: “I’ve invited Bethany here today because she’s a local girl, and Milford Haven needs to recognise her very heroic achievement in completing the rickshaw challenge, whilst raising a huge amount of money for Children in Need.

“I’ve presented her with a civic award which the mayor gives to members of the public who’ve achieved outstanding recognition in the town.”

Bethany’s mum Amanda said being invited to meet the mayor in town hall was a great honour.

She said: “Since we’ve been back from the rickshaw challenge, we’ve had lots and lots of attention which has been lovely, because I think it makes Bethany feel very special. We went to Tesco yesterday and it took up nearly two hours to get around because everyone was stopping to say well done.”