A local dad is saddling up for a 100 mile bike ride to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust in memory of his son, Rio.
Jaydan Redhead, 27, from Chesterfield, is currently training for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey bike ride, taking place on Sunday 4 August, to raise much-needed funds for The Sick Children’s Trust, a charity which supported his family with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation while his son was in hospital.
Rio, the much-loved son of Jaydan, Kersha Rutter and brother of Jai, spent his life undergoing treatment in specialist hospitals across the UK after being born with a rare heart defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Throughout his time in hospital, his family were supported by The Sick Children’s Trust at its Eckersley House, Leeds, and Scott House, Newcastle. Having this support meant that, despite being far away from home, Rio never had to face hospital treatment alone. Since Rio’s passing, his parents have been tirelessly fundraising for The Sick Children’s Trust, last year raising nearly £1,276. Jaydan, an Asbestos Consultant, said:
“Without The Sick Children’s Trust, Kersha and I wouldn’t have been able to be with Rio when he really needed us. Being able to reach your child in a matter of minutes is something every parent should be able to do, and The Sick Children’s Trust is trying to make that possible.
“Not only did the charity support us, but Rio’s younger brother, Jai, often stayed at Scott and Eckersley Houses which meant that his bond with Rio and their relationship didn’t suffer as a result of him being in hospital.
“As a family, we are so grateful to The Sick Children’s Trust for giving us a ‘Home from Home’. It’s not just the practicality of being so close, it’s all the emotional support that comes with it from the house teams and other families staying there, which is why we have chosen to fundraise for a second time. Despite the weather I’m still determined to get lots of miles under my belt – inside and outside the house!”
The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, supporting around 4,000 families a year. It costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night. Sam Lloyd, Senior Fundraising Events Officer at The Sick Children’s Trust, said:
“We’re so grateful for Kersha and Jaydan’s continued support. The money they’ve already raised has gone towards keeping more families together, just minutes from their child’s hospital bedside.
“Everyone at The Sick Children’s Trust is wishing Jaydan the best of luck with the cycle ride – we know that with his determination he will have no problems conquering the course!”
To donate to Jaydan’s JustGiving page, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fun…
For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit sickchildrenstrust.org
