A Ride for Millie’s Trust

28 Jul 2018

Jennie and Hazel met nearly 7 years ago at their local NCT classes as they both prepared for the first children Charlie and Isla. On Sunday 29th July they will be undertaking a daunting 100-mile bicycle ride to raise money and awareness for Millie’s Trust.

Millie’s Trust was founded by the parents of Millie Thompson in 2012 after they tragically lost their daughter to a choking incident. They currently provide first aid training for all who need it and a course for nurseries so that nursing staff can become better trained in First Aid.

Jennie and Hazel

The work they do is so important. Not only could it one day save your own life, but that of a friend or family member. Jennie and Hazel recognise this and are doing all they can to help. It is even more important for all of us to get behind them and show our support. Together, we can make sure that there are no more cases like Millie Thompson’s.

Millies Trust - Jennie and Hazel

Below is Jennie and Hazel’s story, and all the links you will need to donate to their Just Giving Page.

“Who would have thought 6 years ago when we met at an NCT class that we’d be embarking on a challenge like this together?! When we first met we rapidly discovered neither of us were into coffee shop catch ups and both liked a good adventure, and so we had an amazing first maternity leave together, getting up to all sorts of fun with babies in tow.

Two years later and by chance, we then had our second mat leaves together when Florie and Oscar joined the fun. It was after we’d recovered from mat leave number two that we started to get more active – firstly taking on a sprint triathlon and then last year the Manchester-Blackpool 60 mile ride. We did our very first training ride together in the snow of Feb-17 – madness – and I think we’ve ridden in all the elements since! As two busy working mums, these challenges have given us a reason to get out for some much needed ‘me’ time.

This year we had a winter of regular riding under our belts so entered the ballot for the Prudential Ride London 100 miler – safe in the knowledge that everyone we’d spoken to said places were like gold dust… After all it’s the London Marathon of cycling! Needless to say, a few months down the line the ‘Congratulations’ letters arrived, and so the proper training soon began!

We’ve conquered new climbs and even ridden up to the Cat & Fiddle up through the beautiful Goyt valley, something we would have laughed at if someone had suggested it 18 months earlier! What better way to spend an early Sunday morning than spinning through the Cheshire countryside with your best friend, catching up on all the news of the week, taking in the stunning scenery and getting fitter and stronger as “race day” looms.

This Sunday (29 July) is the big day. We push off at 9am and will have 8 1/2 hours to complete the 100 mile course with 4,400 ft of elevation. We start at the Olympic Site in Stratford and then head out around Surrey following the 2012 Olympic road race course, taking in the iconic climbs of Box Hill and Leith Hill en route before finishing back in central London on the Mall.

The lengths we’ve gone to for a weekend away together!

We’ve never ridden over 70 miles before and done this much climbing in one ride so there’s a lot of nervous excitement this week. We’re hoping the temperatures in London ease off a little, but are thoroughly looking forward to the challenge ahead and are excited to be given the chance to raise money for such a good cause.

Bringing up our young families in the Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme area we’ve seen first hand the impact Millies Trust has had on the levels of Pediatric First Aid training in nurseries, pre-schools, schools and holiday clubs. The money we raise from our ride will help Millies trust to continue to roll out much needed Pediatric first aid training across more and more organisations, literally saving lives as they do.

Thank you so much for your support.” Jennie & Hazel