BBC Children In Need Rickshaw Challenge ride through Southport this morning

Southport girl Oliva Ruston set off from Churchtown Primary School this morning on her RickshawChallenge for the BBC Children In Need Appeal.

She was riding with popular BBC presenter Matt Baker on the ride to Clatterbridge.

Olivia has dedicated much of her young life to helping to support her younger sister Jess, who was born with a rare life-limiting chromosomal disorder. Olivia and Jess are incredibly close and she has devoted much of her time to her beloved sister. 

 Both Olivia and her family and are grateful for the support they continue to receive from the BBC Children in Need funded project, Claire House Hospice where both Jess and her family receive respite from her devastating condition. This vital project is funded to deliver a Play Therapist and Team Leader role for a sibling support group to give children and young people such as Olivia the support they need to cope with the emotional difficulties of having a sibling with a life-limiting illness. 

Olivia is a promising fashion student and is hoping to study Fashion Design.   She is also an active fundraiser having raised money for Claire House by selling the face masks she made during lockdown.