A CHESHIRE teenager will once again be getting on her bicycle in memory of her baby sister, while raising money for a hospital.
Jess Weaver, 14, is taking on her eighth bike ride for Alder Hey, raising money for the surgical neonatal unit.
The Alder Hey ambassador will be taking part in the fundraising event in memory of her baby sister Georgie, who sadly died when she was just five days old, having been born with the rare congenital condition tracheal agenesis. Georgie was cared for at the hospital eight years ago.
This year Jess, from Little Neston, will be riding a total of 36 miles, having increased the distance each year she has taken on the challenge.
Over the pandemic, Jess was upset her bike ride couldn't go ahead in its usual form, so instead she cycled every day in May to raise money.
This year's ride takes place on Sunday, May 29, which is two days before Georgie's anniversary.
Jess will ride the first part of the route solo, with her dad, before meeting her fellow riders, friends and family at Net's café in Burton at 10am. She will then continue along the cycleway to Northgate ponds before turning round and heading back to Net's for a celebration and raffle.
Everyone is welcome to come along and support her on the day.
The link for her fundraising page is www.justgiving.com/alderheyneonataland people can follow Jess's updates on Facebook: Majesstic Fundraiser.
Alder Hey is currently fundraising a new state-of-the-art neonatal surgical intensive care unit.
The new Surgical NICU is a joint project between Alder Hey and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust as the Liverpool Neonatal Partnership.
The new unit is planned to offer a further 22 neonatal cots for Liverpool and will feature 18 individual family rooms where parents can be alongside their poorly newborns while they’re receiving expert care.
The unit will address a shared concern between Liverpool Women’s and Alder Hey that babies who need specialist surgery currently have to be transferred to Alder Hey to get the specialist surgical care they need and are then transferred back to Liverpool Women’s Hospital to continue their specialist neonatal care.
The planned facility will cost £16.5m to build with the Charity Appeal aiming to contribute £2.5m.
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