Shopping Centre is taking on cycling challenge for Essex’s only children’s hospice

July 8, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

On Sunday 30^th June, the region’s largest shopping centre held a charity spinathon as part of their fundraising for Essex’s only children’s hospice.

intu Lakeside in Thurrock joined forces with their chosen charity Little Havens Hospice to hold a spinathon at the weekend to fundraise and train for a challenge they are taking part in this September. 

Earlier this year, Lakeside announced they had chosen Little Havens as their charity partner for the next 18-months and the shopping centre will be holding several events and fundraisers for the charity which helps families when they are told that there is no cure for their child’s illness. Little Havens is there to make the journey as comfortable as possible, controlling pain and medication, offering respite and caring for babies, children and teenagers at the end of their lives. This specialist care is free – for as long as is needed – within the family home and at the hospice in Thundersley.

One of the events Lakeside are taking part in is the charity’s bespoke bike ride which will take them 207 miles through the beautiful Essex countryside from Little Havens to Holland via Harwich and down to Bruges in Belgium which is affectionally known as the Venice of the North, and is famous for its chocolate, culture and architecture.

On Sunday the Lakeside team were joined by other members of Team Havens who are also taking on the Little Havens to Bruges Bike Ride including Emma Hamilton, Challenges Fundraiser at Havens Hospices who has organised this challenge. She said, “It’s fantastic that Lakeside have put a team together to join us on the ride, I’m really looking forward to completing the course in September with them and the rest of Team Havens. We still have a few spaces left on the team; so, if you’re looking for a challenge which is going to be a lot of fun and is suitable for riders new to road-racing as well as the more experienced cyclist then please get in touch. 

“On behalf of Little Havens, I’d like to thank Lakeside for choosing to support us. We have to raise over £46,000 every week to be there for every child, baby and teenager who needs us and we can only do that with the support of our local community who choose to fundraise for us by taking part in our events and challenges.” 

For more information on joining the team please visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/Bruges or e-mail ehamilton@havenshospices.org.uk, call 01702 220 308. Registration for this event closes on Friday 12^th July