An Ellesmere Port youngster is to be honoured at the Palace of Westminster later this month for her tireless fundraising efforts.
Heidi Barker, 10, has been selected to receive the British Citizen Youth Award at a formal medal presentation in London on October 17, where she will meet other dedicated young fundraisers.
Heidi has raised thousands of pounds for Alzheimer's Research UK after her great uncle Ian was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2020.
Heidi, who will have the letters BCyA after her name following the award, has earned the title for raising about £28,000 for three charities via endurance fundraising events.
The youngster took on the challenge in March 2021 to walk the equivalent distance between Land’s End and John O’Groats to raise money for Alzheimer's research. She completed walks in her local area with family and friends then totalled up the mileage and marked her progress on a map, and reached her 603-mile target in June 2022.
Last year Heidi was recognised by Cycling UK through its annual 100 Women in Cycling list for her work encouraging females to get on their bikes.
Heidi is super excited to be travelling to London to receive her medal and meet other children who will be receiving theirs.
And her fundraising efforts for Alzheimer's Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Claire House Children's Hospice were recognised on national TV earlier this year when she won a holiday on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
Heidi's parents Claire and David Barker are delighted for their daughter. They said: "Heidi is super excited to be travelling to London on the 17th October to receive her medal and meet the other children who will be receiving theirs.
"To say we are proud of our thoughtful, caring daughter is an understatement, we are bursting with pride and love for her.
Heidi has been a big supporter of Claire House.
"She loves helping people and is such a lovely person to be around. She is always thinking of others."
The 10-year-old isn't resting just yet, as she is soon to complete another fundraising challenge, titled 'Heidi Power'.
This is seeing her travel the distance between the 12 stadia of the teams who formed the first Football League in 1888 – a distance of 215 miles. One of the teams to make up that initial dozen is Heidi's beloved West Bromwich Albion.
Heidi Barker's latest fundraising challenge, 'Heidi Power', sees her travelling between the 12 founding members of the first football league of 1888.
The catch is that Heidi will be completing the equivalent travel distance without any engine assistance. That means she will be walking, running, swimming and cycling her way to her goal.
Heidi is approaching the end of her challenge, with just 10 miles to go, and has raised thousands for Alzheimer's Research UK and Claire House.
To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/heidipower
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