Rosie’s epic cycle gathers £15k for kids MRI scanner

FORGET Bradley Wiggins - Waterside woman Rosie Croucher recently took time out from pulling pints in the 18th century Bell and Jorrocks in Kent - to cycle back home in a fundraiser for a kids brain scanner, all inspired by little Newbuildings girl Millie Slater who was struck by a mystery illness in 2010.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2013, 12:45 BST
Rose Croucher (centre) with -from left - son Callum, daughter Katie and son Thomas.Rose Croucher (centre) with -from left - son Callum, daughter Katie and son Thomas.
Rose Croucher (centre) with -from left - son Callum, daughter Katie and son Thomas.

Rosie Croucher, cycled 500 miles from her adopted home of Frittenden, all in aid of a MRI scanner for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC).

She took up the challenge for the very personal reason that cousin Sharon’s daughter, Millie, now aged seven, took seriously ill in 2010 just after starting at Ebrington Primary School.

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Millie had severe headaches and was variously suspected of having Meningitis, Tubercular Meningitis and Neuro Mylitis Optica although the cause of her illness was extremely difficult to pin down.

But, as Rosie explains, it was only after vital MRI scans at the RBHSC, that they got to the bottom of Millie’s illness. She was eventually found to have a rare form of encephalomyelitis.

“Follow up MRI scans showed Millie had developed some lesions within her myelin sheath of her brain. At this stage Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was considered (a form of encephalitis) which usually occurs just once in a lifetime,” she explained.

“Samples of Millie’s blood, anti bodies and MRI scans were sent to consultant’s world wide as far as Australia, America, France and Cambridge.

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“Without the MRI scans we would not have been able to diagnose, treat and manage Millie’s condition,” she added.

After her epic cycle, Rosie told the Sentinel: “It was a fantastic journey. It was hard but the good weather helped and we got to Liverpool a day ahead of schedule.”

She said little Millie was an inspiration throughout the odyssey and that incredibly she overshot her fundraising target three-fold.

“We’ve raised £15,300 sofar. I had set myself a target of £5,000. We are still accepting donations though!”

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Rosie, who with husband Sean has been running the Bell and Jorrocks for the last six-and-a-half years says it’s a shame charity is needed to fill gaps in public health spending. It’s the latest in a line of fundraisers inspired by Millie. Last year the Sentinel reported how Parishioners of Christ Church, Muff, Culmore and St Peter’s made a £500 donation. To donate towards the scanner visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/thebellandjorrocks

Related topics:Kent