Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I have decided to take on this challenge for a number of reasons:

1. To prove to myself (and my children) that I can achieve this stretching physical challenge - even at my age. Although I am now feeling a bit queasy about signing up last year now the 18 week training is about to start. We will be cycling 317 miles in 4 days with 89 miles on the first day alone with ascents of 5,719 ft from Croydon to Dover - yikes! 

2. To raise money for an amazing charity which is very close to my heart - Helen & Douglas House, our local children's hospice.

As many of you know I have worked for Helen & Douglas House children's hospice for nearly 10 years so I have seen first-hand the massive difference the charity makes to local families with terminally ill children and the huge challenges they face.

This wonderful charity helps support these local children and their families on their physically and emotionally exhausting journey during their child's short life with vital respite care, end-of-life care and supporting the whole family through the devastating experience of losing of a child. The charity cares for children at the hospice in Oxford, at home and in hospital and are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

I regularly meet parents of children who Helen & Douglas House care for and there is no doubt that many would not cope without the charity's help. As a mother of three beautiful, healthy children myself I feel very blessed and want to help other parents less fortunate.  

One of the many amazing children I have met at the hospice is Lily-Mae.  Lily-Mae is a  6 year old girl who has been coming to Helen & Douglas House since 2017. Born in 2013, Lily-Mae was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome in 2015, which causes regular seizures which is a life shortening condition. It took some time for Mum Leanne to come to Helen & Douglas House, but she is now glad she did as it gives her the chance to be Mum, rather than carer and to get support.

Leanne Lily-Mae's Mum says:‘Helen & Douglas House is my daughter’s special place to be safe, smile and be happy. It is a place for me to be Mummy, to take ‘the carer’ role away.  Life is precious and here we can make memories to treasure forever.’

£10 - could pay for an hour's care respite care for Lily-Mae
at the hospice.

£20 - could pay for a one hour bereavement counselling
session for parents.

£30 - could pay for play therapy for a child at the hospice.

£50 - could pay for one of the hospices' community nurses to
visit a child at home to help with pain management.

So please give generously to help families like Lily-Mae's who simply would not cope without the wonderful support of Helen & Douglas House. This charity cannot take away of pain of losing a child but they can walk alongside them on their difficult journey every step of the way to help them cope. 

Thank you so much for your support which I hugely appreciate.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.