A PLUCKY four-year-old Stourbridge boy is gearing up to do a sponsored bike ride to help raise money to help for islanders in cyclone hit Vanuatu where he was born

Jago Bule is planning to cycle ten laps around the lake in Mary Stevens Park this Sunday (April 19) at 4pm to help raise £1,500 to build a new house for his former childminder Amy Euong whose home was destroyed by Cyclone Pam when it ripped through the small island nation in the South Pacific in March.

The youngster, who attends Dawley Brook Pre-School in Wordsley, was born on the island of Efate, Vanuatu, but moved to the Black Country with his Stourbridge raised mum Suzanne Bule two years ago.

Suzanne, who works as a teacher in Kinver, said Jago became aware a storm had hit his home country although she "tried to protect him a little" from the full details of the devastation caused by the cyclone - one of the strongest ever to hit the Pacific.

Suzanne, aged 30, said: "When I told him his Aunty Amy's house had fallen down he thought for a moment and shouted 'I'll build her a new house'.

"I replied that it was a lovely thought, but that you need money to build a house. He asked how he could get money, so I explained that you do something such as a run, and people give you money for doing it. He replied 'I can ride my bike really fast. I could ride my bike and people can give me money, then I can build Aunty Amy a new house". So that is what he is going to do."

Jago had wanted to ride 42 laps round the lake but Suzanne decided ten would be more realistic.

Kind-hearted people have already donated more than £1,000 towards the youngster's fundraising efforts to help islander Amy, who lives in a village just outside the capital Port Vila and who used to look after Jago while his mum was at work.

Suzanne said: "Amy did not just look after him; she showered him with love and attention. The friendship, kindness and love she showed to us is something I will never be able to repay."

She said the aim is to build Amy a new home made from cement blocks, rather than the traditional corrugated iron and bush materials that many properties are constructed with, so it will withstand any future cyclones.

Just £1,500 is needed for the new home but Suzanne added: "If there's any extra money raised through sponsorship we'll re-roof other houses in the village as well."

Anyone wishing to donate to Jago's fundraising efforts can do so via webpage http://gogetfunding.com/project/help-jago-build-a-house