Friend’s 174 Mile Cycle Challenge In Memory Of 12-Year-Old Lydia

A South Yorkshire man is preparing to undertake a 174 mile cycle over three days for The Sick Children’s Trust in memory of his friends’ daughter who sadly passed away last year.

Colin Day, 49 from Sheffield, is raising money for The Sick Children’s Trust to say thank you for supporting the Trinder family, from Doncaster, with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation when their 12 year old daughter, Lydia, was seriously ill in Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Lydia’s lifelong battle began at birth when her parents, Rachel and Mark, were told she had little hope of survival after being diagnosed with a serious heart defect and Alagille syndrome. Lydia, however, defied doctors’ expectations and reached her twelfth birthday before sadly losing her battle last year. Lydia spent three months in GOSH, 170 miles away from home, fighting for her life after becoming seriously ill following a procedure. During this time, The Sick Children’s Trust supported her family with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at Rainbow House, just minutes from Lydia’s hospital bedside.

Since Lydia tragically passed away, her friends, family and the local community have been raising money and awareness for The Sick Children's Trust to say thanks for the charity’s support. Novice cyclist Colin, along with Ryan Bringloe, John Booker Varley and Neil Lemmon, will be taking on The Way of the Roses cycle challenge in an attempt to raise £9,000 for the charity.

Colin says: “Without this charity, Lydia's family wouldn't have been able to stay at her bedside and give her the love and support she needed. She was the life and soul of any party and had the voice of an angel. She took everything in her stride and is desperately missed.

“Lydia’s family’s goal is to sponsor a room at The Sick Children’s Trust’s Rainbow House in her name to support other families who need help from this amazing charity.

“I saw how much it meant to Rachel, Mark and their family to have a ‘Home from Home’ when Lydia was seriously ill. The help they received from The Sick Children’s Trust was remarkable and not only do I want to raise at least £9,000 for the charity, I want to raise a greater awareness of the work it does. We are all amateur cyclists and have taken up cycling purely to do this challenge because Rainbow House helped Lydia’s family cope. It meant they could be close to Lydia and give her comfort, love and support when she needed it the most.”

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, giving families with seriously ill children free accommodation just minutes from their child’s hospital bedside. It costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night in a ‘Home from Home’.

Elisa Capello-Dowd, Community Fundraiser at The Sick Children’s Trust, says, “We’re so grateful to Colin and his team for their support towards us and Lydia’s family. The money that they raise will make a huge difference in helping families who have a seriously ill child in hospital. We wish them the best of luck and can’t wait to hear how their cycling challenge goes!”

Colin and his teammates will set off on The Way of the Roses, travelling from Morecambe to Bridlington on Friday 26 May. To support the team, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Colin-Day7