A SCHOOLGIRL from Ellesmere Port was "overwhelmed" after winning a holiday on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
Heidi Barker, from Great Sutton, has raised more than £5,500 for Alzheimer's Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support by virtually cycling the distance from London to Paris.
The nine-year-old began her cycle on April 13, 2023, and has cycled every day, on routes around West Kirby, New Brighton and beyond completing her final mile on Sunday, February 11, 2024.
READ: Nine-year-old girl completes 214 mile bike ride for two charities
Appearing on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
On Saturday, February 24, Heidi and her parents Claire and David Barker were live on an episode of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway when they found out they had won a Takeaway Getaway for Heidi’s fundraising.
Claire, who nominated Heidi to go on the show, said: “We didn’t know any of that was going to happen we just thought we were being invited to be part of the audience.
“Heidi was so excited she couldn’t eat a thing.
“During the show, Dec came over to Heidi and said ‘We know a lot about you Heidi Barker’. She was speechless. We weren’t expecting him to come over and speak to her. You could tell by her face she was stunned.”
During the ‘Happiest Minute of the Week’ segment of the show Ant and Dec announced that everyone in the audience had been hand-picked for their kind gestures in the local community and that everyone would win a Takeaway Getaway.
Claire said: “When they were doing the countdown they said, ‘stop, stop why are we doing this when we’ve got people like Heidi in the audience? We should just give them a holiday’ and then next minute they were coming along with golden takeaway getaway tickets.
“Heidi was bouncing up and down and waving her ticket in the air.”
At the end of the show, Heidi and her parents were asked to stay behind to sign some forms.
Claire said: “While we were waiting, Dec came over to us and he said to Heidi ‘I feel like I know you because I’ve been saying your name in rehearsals every day’ and then he gave her a big hug.
“He then called Ant over who also gave her a big hug and we took a photograph.
“When we went downstairs we met Simon Cowell who said to her ‘I’ve been reading about you young lady I think you’re amazing’ and then he asked her for a high five. We also met Stephen Mulhern who is her absolute favourite.
“I was so grateful for everyone being so lovely.”
Heidi, Claire and David can now pick from 140 destinations to go on a seven day all inclusive family holiday.
Claire said: “Even now she’s still in disbelief. Me and her dad are super proud.
“We’ve told Heidi she can choose where we go. She doesn’t do this to get a reward she’s so grateful. She keeps asking me if she’s dreaming.”
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