A nine year old boy from South Benfleet is taking on a super bike ride challenge to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust, the charity that supported his parents when he was born prematurely.
Henry Lindsay will be riding his bike for at least one mile every day of the summer holidays, totalling 48 miles, to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust. The charity supported his parents, Alex and Sam, with a free place to stay at its ‘Home from Home’ Stevenson House in 2010 when Henry was born 13 weeks premature and required specialist treatment over 40 minutes away from home.
Henry was born with a serious condition which causes tissue in the bowel to deteriorate and die. In the first five months of his life he had to undergo four major operations as well as battling pneumonia, miles away from home at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
During this difficult time Alex and Sam could always be by Henry’s side as they were supported by The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Home from Home’ Stevenson House located just a two minute walk from the hospital. Now Henry is taking on this challenge to thank the charity for keeping them together. Alex said:
“Being able to stay at Stevenson House was an absolute godsend. It was heart-breaking when we couldn’t stay by Henry’s side but being just a short walk away was so important. You can’t put a price on how valuable it was.
“I have done several fundraisers for The Sick Children’s Trust and Henry decided he wanted to do something to give back to and came up with this fundraiser. We’re incredibly proud of him and it’s so rewarding that he wants to give back too.”
Henry who has now fully recovered and is enjoying school said: “Daddy asked me if I wanted to do some fundraising and I said yes and came up with the idea of riding my bike for a mile each day. I’m really enjoying the rides and I just cannot wait until the next one, I’m so excited!
“It’s absolutely mind blowing to see the amount of donations that are coming in and to see people supporting me on a massive scale. It makes me want to ride more then the 48 miles.”
The Sick Children’s Trust receives no government funding and relies completely on the generosity of its supporters to run it’s ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country. Charlotte Coldrey, Community Fundraising Officer, said:
“Henry is an absolute superstar for taking on this bike ride challenge and we will be cheering him on every day that he is out riding.
“Since the start of lockdown we have been supporting as many families as we can and we will continue to be there for them, but we need the public’s support. Henry is leading by example and we’re encouraging all our supporters to do something similar. We have a whole host of virtual events people can get involved in, such as My Great North Run, setting up a birthday fundraiser or making a donation will all make such a difference to families with a seriously ill child in hospital.”
To read more about Henry’s fundraising and to donate follow the link https://www.facebook.com/donate/1159855184371345/
