Kelly’s bicycle ride will be done with her friend in mind

The 13-year-old former Claverdon Primary School pupil, who lives in Langley, will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support by riding 16 miles on her brand new bicycle from her home to Tudor Grange Park in Solihull where she will complete 18 laps of the one-mile bicycle track before cycling home.

One of the reasons why Kelly decided to do the bicycle ride is because her friend Molly Ollerenshaw, who she knows from primary school, has been treated for cancer over the past four years and has been helped by Macmillan.

Kelly said: “My dad gets regular emails about how Molly is doing and I know how many operations she has had to go through.

“She’s really brave, she’s only eight years old but she has already had to go through a lot.

“She has told me that the Macmillan nurses come round and talk to her.

“This will be the furthest I’ve ever cycled but I think I will get round, my dad will be cycling with me.

“It feels good to be helping other people and I know the money is going to go to a really good cause.”

Molly, who lives in Hatton Park, has recently undergone programme of treatment for the childhood kidney cancer Wilms’ Tumour having been diagnosed with the disease in 2006.

She is visited by Macmillan nurses both at home and at Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she receives care.

Molly’s mother Rachel said: “Macmillan just gives solid underlying support and provides those little things that we need like putting us in touch with the people we need to speak to.

“We are always amazed and overwhelmed by the support we get from people.

“Youngsters don’t always see the bigger picture but for Kelly to take this on board it is fantastic.”

Molly first appeared in the Courier in 2009 when she received a special treat from the Rays of Sunshine charity.

The youngster and her family were taken to London where she and her older brother Ben and younger sister Maeve enjoyed a photo shoot at the headquarters of fashion brand Mini Boden.

Molly said: “It’s really good to see that Kelly is trying so hard for Macmillan.

“I’ll be cheering her on.”