Riding a unicycle is beyond most of us, but one 10-year-old is planning to go a whole mile on one of the contraptions in support of a dog charity that is close to her heart.

Eastern Daily Press: Patience Sadler from Besthorpe is going to do a sponsored unicycle to raise money for Norfolk Greyhound Rescue, her family own several rescue dogs including Ella the greyhound. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017Patience Sadler from Besthorpe is going to do a sponsored unicycle to raise money for Norfolk Greyhound Rescue, her family own several rescue dogs including Ella the greyhound. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Patience Sadler, of Besthorpe, has been practicing her one-wheeled cycling skills in preparation for the attempt, which she will make at Tibenham Airfield on Friday.

The youngster hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for Norfolk Greyhound Rescue, which re-homes unwanted Irish greyhounds who might otherwise face a painful death.

Patience said she was confident she could make the distance on her unicycle, which she started learning to ride about two years ago.

She said: 'I like it because it gives you fitness and tests your balance.

'I found the balance difficult at the start, but once I get going, I'm off.

'I've done about three quarters of a mile before without stopping.

'My friends think I'm good at it, they're quite impressed.'

Patience's family adopted their first sight hound two years ago through the Dogs Trust. Mavis, a lurcher, had deliberately had her leg broken when she was in Ireland.

Then in October last year they adopted three-year-old Ella through Norfolk Greyhound Rescue.

Andrew Sadler, Patience's dad, said: 'She's a black greyhound and she was too small to race. She was starved and she was going to shot. The charity brought back 80 dogs from Ireland last year and they do amazing work.'

Patience said she hoped dog lovers everywhere would think about supporting the charity.

She said: 'It's a good cause because they stop greyhounds from being treated badly.'

Mr Sadler said his family was proud of what Patience was setting out to do.

He said: 'In the last three or four months she has really cracked on with it, and she's really good.

'She's built it up to the point where she can cycle off, turn and even walk one of the dogs at the same time.

'I can't unicycle myself, I think the only way you can learn it is by perseverance.

n Mr Sadler said they had not set up a separate fundraising web page, but people could donate to the charity online at norfolkgreyhoundrescue.co.uk