Community award gives Little Stanion's Brendon a spring in his step

He's helped raise vital cash for his niece's charity
Brendon with Natasha Beames - charity founder Mikayla's mum - with their Lloyd's of London Charity Award won before Christmas.Brendon with Natasha Beames - charity founder Mikayla's mum - with their Lloyd's of London Charity Award won before Christmas.
Brendon with Natasha Beames - charity founder Mikayla's mum - with their Lloyd's of London Charity Award won before Christmas.

A Little Stanion fundraiser who helped vital cash so children battling cancer could receive gifts has been given a Rose of Northamptonshire award.

Brendon Lovell-Moore, 38, saw several big events cancelled because of Covid-19 but didn't let the pandemic stop him from helping his niece's charity, Team Mikayla.

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The charity was set up in 2014 by his niece Mikayla, who has been battling brain cancer for 10 years since the age of four, and aims to put smiles on the faces of children at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Leicester Royal Infirmary Children’s Ward.

Gifts given out last year included a PS4, a table tennis table, Lego sets and iPads.

Like all charities, their fundraising was hampered by the pandemic and Brendon, who initially joined as treasurer, had to think on his feet.

In 2020 he set out to run a total of 1,000 miles and in April he took part in The 2.6 Challenge, setting out a 'Little Stanion Loopies' route around the outside of the village.

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The event, on the day the London Marathon should have taken place, had more than 20 people join in as part of their daily lockdown exercise and helped raise money for the charity.

Brendon did so many loops he ran 14 miles and did more than 30 miles on his bike.

In another gruelling event he set off at 6am and ran up to and around Rutland Water.

And he also became a Guinness World Records holder after being part of the virtual London Marathon in October, which holds the title for the most users to run a remote marathon in 24 hours.

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Brendon's efforts, alongside other fundraisers, meant Team Mikayla was still able to raise more than £25,000 in 2020 despite the pandemic cancelling many of their events.

Brendon said: "It was a surreal moment to get the email saying 'congratulations, you've been recognised as a Rose of Northamptonshire'.

"I'm really proud to get it and knowing it was one of the first ones is something that gave me a spring in my step."

Team Mikayla's fundraising efforts were also helped by some match funding from Brendon's employers, insurance brokers AON UK, and a Lloyd's of London Charity Award.

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The Rose of Northamptonshire awards scheme was designed by Northamptonshire County Council and its leader, as well as the formal institutions of the High Sheriff's office and Lord Lieutenancy, to recognise that many across the county have committed themselves to response and relief efforts since the beginning of the outbreak.

The awards seek to highlight those in every sector and locality of the county that have played a key role.

To nominate someone, visit the page here.

To support the Team Mikayla charity, visit their website here.