We are collecting donations for 2 amazing causes, Blood Bikes and Pennys Army.

Blood Bikes an amazing group of volunteers who deliver urgent medical samples (blood, platelets, donated frozen breast milk etc) completely free of charge for our local NHS hospitals.

These 100% volunteers are the riders, the controllers and the fundraisers who work as a team to help the NHS improve the lives of patients and their families. Samples are transported on their fleet of Home Office approved blood bikes who made 4693 deliveries in 2017 and rode 195,182 miles. Funds raised will help keep the bikes safely on the road.

Our second cause is for Penny, here is Pennys story.

On 18th September 2018 Penny was diagnosed with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) III Type A - Sanfilippo Disease. This is a very rare, life limiting disease that causes progressive complex needs and severe learning difficulties. Penny has an enzyme missing, which means her body cannot break down Mucopolysaccharides, these will store in her body and cause cell damage, mainly affecting her brain.

As the disease progresses, children with MPS III become hyperactive and display difficult behaviours, sleeplessness, loss of speech and continence, eventually being unable to walk, eat and communicate, losing a lot of skills they have acquired during the first years of their life. Brain damage can cause dementia and seizures, children can get joint pain as they stop becoming mobile. Most children do not live into adulthood.

Receiving a diagnosis like this is heartbreaking and difficult for us as a family to process. Penny has shown delays since the age of 2 years old, and had lots health issues. We have known for a while that she was different to other children her age, but never imagined that it would be such an awful diagnosis. We have got to watch our beautiful little girl lose all of her skills, slowly stop being able to do the things that she loves like running around with her brothers and eating. This horrible disease will slowly take my little girl away from me.

Right now Penny is ok! She is delayed and hyperactive, will never be toilet trained and eats the most inappropriate things! She is funny, cheeky, bossy and very loving. If you meet her she will end up becoming your best friend very quickly, wanting hugs and kisses. Penny lights up a room with her infectious smile and endless energy. We need to make the most of each and every day with her, we know our time with her is limited, and we are going to make sure we make the most amazing memories.

Fundraising for Penny will help towards sensory equipment, we would like to make her a sensory room with lots of soft play. She will eventually need a downstairs bedroom and wetroom, this money can help towards giving her the most amazing space with everything she will need as the disease progresses.

We also want to take her Disneyland... Penny loves Disney! It is something we have always said we would plan for when she is older, but we want to take whilst she is mobile and able to enjoy the experience.