Big Bird Charity Run - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Big Bird Charity Run – TWO brothers, John and Mark Everett, from Leigh and Wickford are set to race across Europe in an old banger car decorated to look like Big Bird from Sesame Street

Big Bird Charity Run - TWO brothers, John and Mark Everett, from Leigh and Wickford are set to race across Europe in an old banger car decorated to look like Big Bird from Sesame Street

TWO brothers, John and Mark Everett, from Leigh and Wickford are set to race across Europe in an old banger car decorated to look like Big Bird from Sesame Street, to raise vital funds for Gold Geese, a Leigh based charity supporting children and young people fighting cancer in the Southend and Basildon areas.

The pair will set off for the five-day challenge on Thursday 24th April, competing with forty other teams to cover 2000 miles from London to Lisbon and completing daily activities and challenges.

The route will see them drive to the south of France, crossing into Spain through the Pyrenees mountain range, and onwards into Portugal, finishing in Lisbon on 28th April.

The brothers hope to raise at least £1000 for the charity Gold Geese, which provides practical and emotional support to local families of children and young people fighting cancer.

Support is tailored to each family’s needs and ranges from funding for mental health therapy and food shop vouchers to toys, weekend trips away and practical help with travel to and from hospital.

John Everett said: “We are both really excited to be taking part in this adventure.

“I did a similar event last year with a friend and this year we have branched out with new co-drivers and as soon as I asked my brother Mark if he fancied a little road trip he jumped at the chance.

“We were both born and raised in South Essex, so we were looking for a local charity that we could support.

“We had already planned our car theme, Sesame Street’s Big Bird as well as our fancy-dress outfits of Bert and Ernie, so when we came across Gold Geese and saw the support they give to local families, it was like it was all meant to be – one big bird car flying together with Gold Geese to raise awareness of childhood cancer and support local children fighting cancer.

“We’ll be sharing photos and videos from the trip on our Instagram account @bigbirdsadventure.”

Katie Southgate, founder of Gold Geese, said: “We’re hugely grateful to John and Mark for choosing to support Gold Geese, and what an epic event this will be!

“We can’t wait to see the photos and hear all about it.

“We’re there every step of the way for local families affected by childhood cancer. Our slogan is ‘We Fly Together’, because geese are a team and no one is left behind.

“We receive no Government funding and rely on community donations to fund our vital work. Around 1,900 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and it causes a huge upheaval for everyone in the family – emotionally, physically and often financially.”

A donation of £3 could buy a Gold parent a coffee and peer to peer support chat

£12 could provide a nice ready meal dinner for a family’s hospital stay

£20 could offer a child with cancer toys or comfy new pyjamas

£50 funds a family counselling session

£280 funds a memorial bench for a child who has passed away

£400 funds a big end of treatment celebration for friends and family

To support the brothers with a donation, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/bigbird.

For more information about the charity or to learn the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer visit www.goldgeese.org.

Picture: John and Mark Everett with their ‘Big Bird’ car.

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