FAMILY PEDAL INTO TOP SPOT 

A loving family has pedalled into this week’s Charity Champion leaderboard after organising a cycle ride for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, which raised over £8,000.

The family was inspired to raise money to say thank you for the on-going care their two-year-old daughter, Penny, receives at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Penny is treated at the hospital for a rare disease called Apert Syndrome. The condition affects the growth of her bones, causing fusion of her fingers and toes and premature fusion of her skull plates causing pressure on her brain.

Penny’s family, including Mum, Jess, Dad, Dave, big sister Bethany and big brother, Levi, took on various fundraising challenges to raise vital funds for the hospital, which means so much to them.

Mum, Jess, commented: “Without Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Penny wouldn’t receive the care she does, and her life may have taken a very different path. For that reason, we feel it’s hugely important we do our bit to help raise funds for the hospital and help give other children like Penny, the best possible experience.

“We decided to do a cycle ride because Penny faces many challenges every day and will continue to do so for the rest of her life, we wanted to put ourselves in her shoes and do something that would challenge us and take us out of our comfort zone. Seeing everyone in red with Penny’s picture on their tops was amazing, and motivated us all to keep going.”

Miranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “It’s always inspirational to hear how the world-class treatment our hospital provides inspires families and friends to fundraise. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Jess, Dave and the rest of the Barratt family for supporting our hospital in this way.

 “The money they’ve raised will make a massive difference to the lives of our brave children and their families on Ward 10, where Penny has been treated.”

Penny’s family is continuing to fundraise in 2018 by taking part in the charity’s Big Bandage campaign in March, and organising further fundraising events themselves. “Penny still has many hurdles to overcome and more surgery planned but she is doing fantastic” added Jess.

For more information on Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, visit www.bch.org.uk, email [email protected] or call 0121 333 8506.