Birthday challenge for Brighouse woman to support NHS charity

A Brighouse woman is taking on a year-long fitness fundraiser to celebrate her 57th birthday.
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Lucy Young turned 57 on May 14, 2020 and decided to take on a unique challenge by completing 57 reps of exercise each day for a whole year.

The doting mum and grandma already leads a very fit and healthy lifestyle, and before lockdown enjoyed cross fit at her local community gym, CrossFit HX5.

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To mark her 57th year, Lucy wanted to take on an endurance challenge to raise funds for Leeds Hospitals Charity and give something back to her local NHS hospitals.

Lucy Young is raising money for Leeds Hospitals CharityLucy Young is raising money for Leeds Hospitals Charity
Lucy Young is raising money for Leeds Hospitals Charity

She was inspired to fund raise after seeing first-hand the amazing support her family friend’s daughter Kayleigh Hirst was given on ward 52 at Leeds Children’s Hospital when she was just 13 years old.

Kayleigh was rushed into hospital with meningitis and doctors discovered an abscess on her brain.

Thanks to the efforts of the staff on the ward, Kayleigh’s life was saved and she could return home to her family after five weeks.

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Kayleigh, 29, now works as a sister on the same ward where she was cared for 16 years ago.

Lucy said, “I’ve always wanted to give something back to the ward that saved Kayleigh’s life and with everything that happened in 2020 I knew that the staff would need my support more than ever.

“I’ve never fundraised before and at first I was scared I’d taken on too much.

“Although this challenge is a physically tough one it’s nothing compared to the emotional turmoil that Kayleigh and her family went through.”

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The dedicated fundraiser has taken to social media to share her daily efforts with friends and family, from 57 burpees, to deadlifts, squats, push ups and more.

She has so far raised a total of £1,255 for Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Kayleigh said, “Lucy and her family were so supportive at a really scary time for me and my family, and we’re still so close now.

"My own experience in hospital inspired me to work at my local hospital and I want to help other children and their families going through the same traumatic time my family did.

"I joined in with the challenge to mark the halfway point and just one day was hard enough for me – what she’s doing is incredible.”

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