A Bolton charity named after a baby girl who died after suffering with heart failure is getting ready to hold its annual fundraising event.
Lagan’s Cycle Challenge will be taking place on April 23 this year, returning to Bolton for the eighth time.
The challenge, run by charity Lagan's Foundation, brings in cyclists from across the North West to partake in one of three routes, all of varying difficulties.
It marks a very important occasion for CEO and founder of the charity, Carren Bell.
On April 26, 2011, Carren and her partner Barry Grant lost their three-month-old daughter, Lagan, to heart failure.
Lagan had been diagnosed with complex heart defects while she was in the womb and was found to have further heart issues when she was born in January 2011.
Starting her life in hospital, Lagan was later allowed to return home with Carren and Barry, but still needed regular tending to, including feeding every three hours through a tube.
In the early hours of April 26, Lagan was admitted to hospital and died, having suffered heart failure.
Carren said: “I started Lagan’s Foundation in 2011, after the loss of my baby girl Lagan.
“I work alongside my team in memory of my little girl to make sure no family feels alone whilst caring for their sick child.
“We have had ups and downs over the past 12 years, and I am proud to say we are constantly growing our team of highly trained carers to allow us to take on more families to support.”
The cycling challenge is run each year on the Sunday before Lagan passed, in memory of her and her fight during her 15 weeks of life.
The charity purposefully chooses uphill routes to represent the uphill battle that children with Congenital Heart Defects face.
Carren added: “We’re looking forward to seeing the challenge in its eighth year.
“Thanks to those who choose to participate, they will be supporting the charity to deliver further donated respite care to children aged up to five with heart defects and feeding issues across the region.”
To learn more about Lagan’s Foundation and the Cycle Challenge, visit their website at: https://lagans.org.uk/
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at zach.harrison@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @zachhjourno.
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