Junior national champion Anaya Patel has helped a 10-year-old to complete a ‘decathlon’ challenge to raise awareness of the part sport can play in boosting mental health.

Dexter Rosier is taking on a 10-sport challenge before his 10th birthday next month, in aid of mental health charity Sport In Mind.

The challenges included the likes of mountain biking, paddleboarding and diving – the latter alongside Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor.

Dexter, who is from Reading, met up with Anaya at the town’s Kingfisher club to complete the final leg of his personal mission by playing table tennis.

The youngster is raising money via the JustGiving website – click here if you want to make a donation.

On his page, he explains: “I am doing 10 sports challenges before my 10th birthday for Sport in Mind because I want to share how being active makes me happy.”

In a letter posted on the Sport In Mind website, Dexter added: “”Sometimes I feel scared, sometimes I feel shy. Sometimes I feel like I want to run and hide.
“So I cycle, play football, play tennis and run, this makes me feel free and happy I feel like I really belong.”

Dexter also hit the headlines after Euro 2020, when he wrote to Marcus Rashford after England’s final defeat to Italy, saying the footballer had inspired him to help people who are less fortunate.