Thorpe Satchville family have raised £50,000 for charity

A remarkable family from Thorpe Satchville have raised almost £50,000 from a series of gruelling fundraisers, and they are already planning more in 2019.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jan 2019, 14:14 BST
Updated 7th Feb 2019, 17:37 BST
Maddy Lygo pictured during her 268-mile trek across the Penine Way EMN-190901-112002001Maddy Lygo pictured during her 268-mile trek across the Penine Way EMN-190901-112002001
Maddy Lygo pictured during her 268-mile trek across the Penine Way EMN-190901-112002001

Matt and Nicki Lygo and their children, Maddy (16), Gabe (12) and eight-year-old Nate have all taken part in long distance walks and bike rides over the last four years.

All the proceeds go to Duchenne UK in the name of their young friend Tom, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a muscle-wasting disease which confines sufferers to wheelchairs and gives them a short life expectancy.

The money has been boosted by the family’s annual Melton swimming event, the Duchenne Dip, and Matt’s 17 marathons.

Matt and Nicki Lygo and their children, Maddy, Gabe and Nate together to celebrate the finish of the epic Penine Way fundraiser completed by Maddy and Nicki EMN-190117-150810001Matt and Nicki Lygo and their children, Maddy, Gabe and Nate together to celebrate the finish of the epic Penine Way fundraiser completed by Maddy and Nicki EMN-190117-150810001
Matt and Nicki Lygo and their children, Maddy, Gabe and Nate together to celebrate the finish of the epic Penine Way fundraiser completed by Maddy and Nicki EMN-190117-150810001
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Nicki is preparing to run 190 miles along the hilly Peak Boundary Circuit in 100 hours in May with ranger friend Stu Westfield.

She said: “We will be on our feet for a large proportion of each day, grabbing just a short sleep each night if we can.

“It’s going to be a monumental challenge.”

Their progress can be followed on the family’s fundraising Facebook page, ‘Miles for muscles: fundraising for Duchenne UK’, where there will be regular updates.

Fundraiser Nicki Lygo with Stu Westfield, who will be running the 190-mile Peak Boundary Circuit with her this year EMN-190117-150821001Fundraiser Nicki Lygo with Stu Westfield, who will be running the 190-mile Peak Boundary Circuit with her this year EMN-190117-150821001
Fundraiser Nicki Lygo with Stu Westfield, who will be running the 190-mile Peak Boundary Circuit with her this year EMN-190117-150821001

Nicki, a junior doctor at Leicester Royal Infirmary, and daughter Maddy recently walked hundreds of miles along the Pennine Way, raising £7,500 for the charity.

Maddy walked the 268 miles across challenging terrain from Edale in Derbyshire up to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland with her mum acting as ‘pack horse’ and chaperone.

Maddy then went home and Nicki trekked all the way back after a night’s rest, completing a fell marathon a day for 10 consecutive days and covering a mammoth 536 miles in total.

She said: “That was easily the hardest thing I have ever done.

“At times the pain in my feet was intense, particularly at night, which made sleeping difficult.

“I am so, so proud of my daughter for completing her massive challenge. It’s no small undertaking for someone of her age.”

Maddy said: “It was incredibly hard, particularly setting out and knowing I had 268 miles to cover and so many hills to climb.

“I feel proud to have achieved this challenge and I know the money we have raised will go to helping Tom and all the other children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.”

The Lygo family plan to continue fundraising as there is a strong hope that current gene therapy trials may bring about a long awaited cure, and save the lives of thousands of children who currently suffer with the debilitating disease.