The resilient eight-year-old may not have been the fastest, or ridden the furthest, in the WA Telethon Freeway Bike Hike for Asthma, but she certainly stole the show after a photo of her riding alongside a police officer went viral on social media.
Emily’s CP wasn’t going to stop her irrepressible can-do attitude. Watching on was her mother Jen, who noticed her little girl struggle during the second half of the ride. It was then a local Perth police officer decided to become Emily’s personal cheerleader.
“Emily didn’t think she would make it, but the gorgeous policeman riding beside us asked me her name and then rode close to her,” Jen said to The Western Australian.
Emily is joined by a police officer on his bike!
“He just kept talking to her the entire way, challenging her to a race and then joking she was faster than him.”
The heartwarming actions of the police officer gave Emily the drive to continue.
The youngster dug deep and rode with all her heart to join her sister, who suffers from a milder case of CP, waiting for her at the finish line.
The valiant effort got Emily to complete the hike, where she was “absolutely spent”.
“She was exhausted,” Jen said.
“She went to bed very early and was asleep within seconds.”
Emily gets a police escort!
Emily was quick to thank her hero through her Twitter account.
“Thank you @WA_Police for cheering me on and escorting me across the finish line @FwyBikeHike @Telethon7 I did it 3km #CerebralPalsy,” Emily tweeted to her 283 followers.
The inspiring snap of Emily with the police officer attracted over 40,000 likes within hours.
Hannah Cammack witnessed the amazing feat. She commented on the photo, describing how it gave her goose bumps.
“I was at the finish line and saw [Emily’s sister] Reese come in on her own with one policeman,” Hannah said.
“While we waited for her mum and sister he stayed by her side, talking to her and making her laugh. That was gorgeous to see.
“When Emily rounded that last bend, with her mum Jen and the flashing lights of the police bike, I got goosebumps.
“The look of determination on her little face as she pedalled those last few metres was very heartwarming and the policeman had a big grin on his face.
“There are definitely still good people in the world.”
