A COVENTRY bobby is getting on his bike to help fundraise for life-changing surgery for a two-year-old girl.
Inspector Steve Malone, of Coventry neighbourhood police team, will pedal for 15 hours as part of the ‘Sufferfest Knighthood’ endurance challenge to raise vital funds for Millie-Bea Hughes.
The toddler, who is the daughter of Detective Constable Natalie Hughes of Wolverhampton CID, has diplegia cerebral palsy and her family need to raise £40,000 for an operation to help her walk.
Inspired to do his bit to help Millie-Bea’s cause, Insp Malone will cycle around 250 miles on a static bike – averaging more than 20mph and burning an estimated 8,000 calories along the way.
Cerebral Pausey sufferer Millie-Bea who needs to raise funds for an operation in America that would help her walk. s
And to make it the challenge more realistic, he will also be hooked up to a screen playing footage of a cycling race.
Steve, who will take on the challenge at a David Lloyd Health Centre on October 15, said: “It is the hardest challenge I will have ever undertaken.
“I have completed the standard Knighthood Challenge before; it took over 12 hours.
“That’s tough enough – but this will be the next level of intensity as no-one has ever tried 13 hours in a row.
“I thought I’d do a bit extra to make this unique.
“I have a young daughter and after hearing about Millie-Bea I was desperate to do something to help.
“I enjoy cycling and a challenge so this seemed ideal.
“My legs and other body parts may disagree for a few days afterwards.”
The Hughes family from Rugeley have so far collected more than £35,000 towards Millie-Bea’s operation – which is not available over the NHS.
The youngster’s mother, Natalie, said: “What Steve is doing is a real test of endurance and we are extremely grateful for his help in supporting our fundraising for Millie-Bea’s operation.
“Hopefully this will push us towards reaching the total.”
Visit http://just4children.org/children-helped-2016/millie-beas-walking-wish/ or https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/just4children/milliebeaswalkingwish to support Insp Malone’s efforts.
