Olivia Ruston, 17 from Southport, has been chosen as one of the five to take part in the BBC Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge.

The five-chapter relay challenge will take place between Monday 1st and Friday 5th November. Throughout the challenge Matt Baker, the young people and the entire crew will be following strict COVID-19 guidelines in order to keep everyone involved in the production safe.

Olivia will be doing her challenge on the Wednesday, November 3rd.

The current schedule is to leave Churchtown Primary School at 9:30am, Marine Way Bridge at 10am, then Coast Road and Formby by pass to the Ferry at approx 14:30pm

Olivia has dedicated much of her young life to helping to support her sister younger sister Jess, who was born with a rare life-limiting chromosomal disorder.

Olivia and Jess are incredibly close and she has devoted much of her time to her beloved sister. Both Olivia and her family and are grateful for the support they continue to receive from the BBC Children in Need funded project, Claire House Hospice where both Jess and her family receive respite from her devastating condition.

This vital project is funded to deliver a Play Therapist and Team Leader role for a sibling support group to give children and young people such as Olivia the support they need to cope with the emotional difficulties of having a sibling with a life-limiting illnesses.

Olivia is a promising fashion student and is hoping to study Fashion Design. She is also an active fundraiser having raised money for Claire House by selling the face masks she made during lockdown.

The Rickshaw Challenge for BBC Children in Need is back with a difference. This year, to keep everyone COVID safe, instead of the riders coming to the rickshaw, for the first time the rickshaw is going to them.

The Great Rickshaw Relay Challenge will see Matt Baker and the team take on a relay-style ride in five chapters, with each rider taking a leg each, travelling through their hometowns and visiting places which hold a particular significance for them. As the challenge enters its 11th year, Matt will be there to pass the “rickshaw baton” between these five inspirational young people.

You can watch how they go on in a special one-hour documentary, where we will not only share the team’s remarkable stories but also celebrate the history of this much-loved BBC Children in Need staple, while at the same time raising money to help change young lives.

Below you can donate to the challenge, meet the team and also find out how you can raise even more money by taking on your own cycling challenge.

DONATE HERE

Source: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/

Congratulations, Olivia and good luck. It's a tough challenge each year for those who take part and especially so if the weather is not kind.