A SOUTH Wirral schoolgirl's determination to make her sister proud came to fruition on Sunday when she rode her trike from Willaston to West Kirby on the first anniversary of her death.

Jessica Weaver's brave effort raised £513 for Alder Hey Children's Hospital - and the money is still coming in.

Mum Emma said: "We're so very proud of Jessica. Online donations are coming in all the time - it's amazing.

"We're just so grateful to the public for getting behind us. There aren't any words to describe that was felt from the public on Sunday. It's overwhelming.

"Jessica started training in earnest about 15 weeks ago. The furthest she had cycled before Sunday was six miles during each training session.

"She has said she would like to do a charity cycle every year."

The first time seven-year-old Jessica Weaver rode her new trike along New Brighton promenade, her little sister Georgina was entering the world.

But unbeknown to her at the time, Jess would not get the chance to share that adventure with her sister.

That’s because the tiny tot – who arrived six weeks early at Arrowe Park Hospital on May 26, 2014 – was born with Tracheal agenesis, a rare condition in which the windpipe fails to develop.

Her parents Emma and Leigh, from Neston, watched on as doctors worked hard to stabilise her before transferring her to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where she was just the third baby in 18 years with the fatal condition.

Little Georgie was christened at Alder Hey in front of 30 family and friends after the consultant said there was nothing they could do for her.

And on May 31, 2014 – aged just five days old – the Weaver family were dealt a heartbreaking blow as brave Georgina passed away.

Since then, the family have rallied together to raise awareness of Tracheal agenesis as well as much-needed funds for Alder Hey and Ronald McDonald House.

So far they have raised more than £5,000 for Ronald McDonald House and hope to do the same for Alder Hey.

This weekend, Jessica rode her trike from Hadlow Station in Willaston along the Wirral Way to West Kirby.

“I told Georgie I would do a sponsored trike ride in her name to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where she was cared for,” said the seven-year-old, who has already smashed her fundraising target.

“I did it after church service – a year to the day that Georgie had to leave us. I rode my pink trike from Hadlow Station along the Wirral Way to the biggest ice-cream I can find in West Kirby – approximately 11 miles."

Wirral Globe: Georgie Weaver and her big sister Jessica.
Jessica Weaver with sister Georgie.

Mum Emma said: “The day before Georgie was born Leigh drove to Pontypridd to collect the trike as a surprise for Jess and when she rode it for the first time along New Brighton prom, I was actually in labour.

"It seems a fitting way to try and raise some much-needed funds.”

The 33-year-old added: “We are so proud of Jess. She is so incredibly brave and Alder Hey Children's Charity have contacted us to ask Jess to be an ambassador.  

“It is a great honour and she is looking forward to helping the charity hit the £30million that they need for the new hospital as part of the land of remarkable people appeal.

“The fundraising has been a great distraction which was very much needed in the weeks following Georgie's passing.

“We are so grateful for everybody’s ongoing support, though we do feel like we are always asking people for money.”

Wirral Globe:
Jessica with her mum and dad, Emma and Leigh Weaver.

  • To sponsor Jess, visit justgiving.com/Emma-Weaver2
     
  • They also hope to get Georgie trending on Twitter using #ThePowerofGeorgie to spread the word.