A CHILDREN’S paediatric surgeon from Alder Hey is cycling 500 miles in five days to raise money for a children’s charity.

Harriet Corbett, a mother of two, is raising funds for charity Thinking of Oscar to help support improvements in paediatric care and general healthcare for children.

Harriet, who lives in Croft and will also be visiting six children’s hospitals as part of her challenge, is hoping to contribute to the £500,000 Innovation Fund target set by the charity for its #TOO500 event.

Speaking ahead of her cycle, she said: “It will be very tough but there will be a real sense of achievement, as long as we are rewarded by a huge amount of money raised.

“I know there are a lot of innovative things being done now that just need funding.

“There must be lots of ideas out there that can improve a child patient’s journey through hospital, and that’s what the Thinking of Oscar charity is all about.”

The Thinking of Oscar charity was created by Hannah and David Cole, whose 16-month-old son Oscar died suddenly in 2014.

Harriet’s marathon effort will begin at Oxford Children’s Hospital, where Oscar was treated, and will finish back at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace, after visiting children’s hospitals at Birmingham, Alder Hey, Manchester, Sheffield and Great Ormond Street along the way.

She is being supported - and was introduced to the event - by Alder Hey colleague and clinical director of innovation, Iain Hennessey, and will cross the finish line on June 16, three days before the fifth anniversary of Oscar’s death.

n To donate to the cause, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Harriet-Patel1.