Archived
Please note, this page may contain outdated information or subject matter.
You might remember the Ice Maidens - the British Army team who, in 2017, became the first female team to cross Antarctica on foot.
Later this month Cheshire Mum Janey Brant will join three of their team members (reservists Major Sandy Hennis, Lance Sergeant Sophie Montagne and Lance Corporal Rin Passmore) on a slightly warmer challenge.
The four women will be taking on Action Medical Research’s ‘Race the Sun’ fundraiser in the Lake District.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the team” admits the 40-year-old from Macclesfield. “Sandy is my younger brother’s partner, and when she asked me to join them for this fundraiser I said ‘Yes’ straight away: I hadn’t even seen what the challenge actually was!
“I’ve been doing a lot of training though and can’t wait to cross that finish line with the girls.”
Action’s annual ‘Race the Sun’ event involves an 80km bike ride, a hike to the summit of Helvellyn and a 3km canoe.
In preparation, Janey’s been out on her bike most weekends and trekking up Shutlingsloe.
She now wants to concentrate her efforts on fundraising for a cause that’s close to her heart.
“My son Joshua was born three months early at just 27 weeks. He was so tiny, it was terrifying.
“The worst part was not even being able to hold him.”
But when Joshua was just five weeks old he contracted necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a potentially fatal bowel infection.
“Oh my goodness that was terrible. He was put back on a ventilator and rushed back into intensive care. With the help of life support machines and amazing medical care Joshua made it. He’s now a happy and healthy 18-month-old.
“Sadly though there are babies who are not as lucky as Joshua. Families and mothers who are grieving the loss of babies and little children. And that’s why I want to help raise funds for Action.”
Action’s ‘Race the Sun: Lake District’ takes place on Saturday 31 August.
The team hopes to raise £1,500. You can find out more on their Just Giving page.
Action Medical Research is a UK-wide children’s charity which funds desperately needed research to tackle the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children. It has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.
Action is currently funding research into areas including premature birth, epilepsy, asthma, scarlet fever, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.
The charity hopes to raise £1m by the end of 2020 as part of its BORN TOO SOON campaign.
-END-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Find out more about the Race the Sun: Lake District challenge:
https://action.org.uk/events/team-challenges/race-sun-lake-district
Find out more about Action’s BORN TOO SOON campaign:
/node/3508
Find out more about Action’s appeal for donations to help our funded research into NEC:
/node/3535
For more information on Action Medical Research contact Peter Denton, Fundraising Communications Officer, on:
T: 01403 327412
E: pdenton@action.org.uk
W: action.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter at @actionmedres and @amr_events
Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/actionmedres
Follow us on Instagram at @actionmedres and @actionevents
Action Medical Research is a leading UK-wide charity saving and changing children’s lives through medical research. For more than 65 years we’ve helped pioneer ways to prevent disease and develop treatments benefiting millions of people. Our research has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths. But we urgently need to develop more new treatments and cures for sick babies and children and we can’t do it without you.
Join our fight for little lives today.
Charity reg. nos 208701 and SC039284