Ultimate mountain mission for Heidi-Lou as charity gears up for summer event
A brave team have completed an immense physical challenge to support a Manchester children’s charity – as Georgia’s Children of the World gears up for a special summer event this weekend (Saturday 23 July).
Cycling 500 miles and climbing 12,000 feet, Matt Maxwell (51), Andrew Pierce (59), Eddie Kilfoyle (51), together with a team of supporters from Manchester took on their ‘3PeaksON2Wheels’ challenge to ensure the charity could continue to provide life changing support for 9-year-old Heidi-Lou Decieco from Swinton.
They not only climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – but incredibly also cycled the route between these three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, on a journey that took seven days. The team clocked up more than £7,000 in fundraising along the way, with further donations still coming in. It will help Heidi-Lou, who has cerebral palsy, work towards taking her first steps.
The Georgia’s Children of the World charity has been running since 2011 and raised nearly £350,000 to support children locally and overseas. Having been unable to run its major G-Festival event for the past two years due to the pandemic, its team have worked hard to continue fundraising to support its work in the community.
Steve Murray from Worsley, who founded the charity in memory of his daughter Georgia, said: “It is amazing to see Georgia’s Children fundraising adventures continue this summer. The 3PeaksON2Wheels challenge was an insane physical challenge and the team did an incredible job – battling through the July heat to reach the finish line.”
The 3PeaksON2Wheels team were joined by Georgia’s friend Hannah Probyn (30), who took part in the climbing aspects of the challenge.
Heidi-Lou recently underwent life changing Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, which was not available to her through the NHS, and now needs access to specialist rehabilitation. Steve said: “Heidi-Lou is an inspiration and has achieved so much since the charity first got involved when she was five years old. We’re so pleased to be able to help her with the physiotherapy she now needs to retrain her muscles following her operation. We hope it will lead to Heidi-Lou being able to walk with the aid of a frame – a once impossible dream for her and her mum.”
Heidi-Lou’s mum, Kate Decieco said: “We were originally told by doctors it was unlikely Heidi-Lou would ever be able to sit, let alone stand or walk. The support and encouragement we’ve seen from the community and Georgia’s Children charity has been amazing. A huge thank you to all those involved in the 3PeaksON2Wheels challenge.”
Heidi-Lou is one of hundreds of children the charity has helped over the last decade. Activity it has supported includes breakfast club and school uniform projects in Salford and Georgia’s schools initiatives in Cambodia.
The charity is now gearing up for G-Festival at The Waterside in Monton on Saturday 23 July, where there will be music throughout the day and into the evening, from 1pm until 11pm.
Steve, who is former punk frontman from Manchester band Fast Cars, added: “We’re looking forward to getting our line-up of music events back on track after the challenges of the past two years. Providing entertainment from some of the region’s best talent has always played a big role for the charity. Our G-Festival events always prove popular, and funds raised will help kids here in Manchester and around the world.”