David Beckham has left a delighted football fan, five, speechless by sending her a video message of support for her fundraising campaign.
Betty-Leigh Allinson has raised more than £12,000 for a hospice providing special end-of-life care. The football fan – whose grandfather is Arsenal legend Ian Allinson – has been cycling one mile every day in a different football kit.
She’s had shirts sent from Arsenal, Watford and Cambridge – and when David heard about her incredible efforts he sent her a signed Inter Miami top. The England legend also recorded Betty-Leigh a special video message which left her awestruck.
Sweet: David Beckham has left a delighted football fan, five, speechless by sending her a video message of support for her fundraising campaign
The star, 45, said: ‘Hi Betty, I can’t believe you are still going a mile every day on that bike. You are going to be so fit and raise so much money. Well done and congratulations. Keep going, we’re all so proud of you, you are so, so amazing.’
Betty-Leigh’s mum Faye said the former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace just sent her a signed Inter Miami shirt in the post.
The family saw the package was from David Beckham and was incredulous.
Faye, 44, said: ‘That was something else, we got sent it on Sunday morning and couldn’t believe it. He seems so humble and sounded so genuine about Betty-Leigh. It was so, so kind of David Beckham.’
Happy days! Betty-Leigh Allinson has raised more than £12,000 for a hospice providing special end-of-life care. The footballer fan – whose grandfather is Arsenal legend Ian Allinson – has been cycling one mile every day in a different football kit
Betty-Leigh decided to try and fundraise for Garden House Hospice when she heard about their problems from grandmother Jean, 63.
Jean, a fundraiser at the centre in Letchworth Garden City, Herts, had mentioned to her daughter that the hospice had lost all its income from charity shops due to the coronavirus pandemic.
So Betty-Leigh decided to do something about it. She had £7 of pocket money she had saved for a Disney holiday, which had to be cancelled, so she donated that. Having just learned to cycle without stabilisers, she decided to cycle a mile daily.
Reaching out: She’s had shirts sent from Arsenal, Watford and Cambridge – and when David heard about her incredible efforts he sent her a signed Inter Miami top. The England legend also recorded Betty-Leigh a special video message which left her awestruck
‘We thought let’s try and turn a negative into a positive,’ mum Faye said. ‘I thought we’d be lucky if we made £100, but it just took off. And the support has been incredible, we could never have foreseen this.’
On her first day, April 22, little Betty-Leigh cycled round their home village of Codicote, Herts, in a Hendon FC top, the football team her dad Lee, 35, manages.
She was then sent shirts from Arsenal, Watford and Cambridge to wear as well.
The tiny tyro is now on her 36th day, and has pledged to cycle a mile every day until lockdown is over. The target was initially set at £500, but Betty-Leigh has now raised more than £12,000.
The whole fam: Betty-Leigh’s mum Faye said the former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace just sent her a signed Inter Miami shirt in the post
‘She is absolutely loving the reaction and attention,’ Faye laughed, ‘She’s a very strong character. We’ve had days where it’s been raining and she’s been drenched through. But I’m amazed at her resilience.’
Clubs and supporters have now sent in 83 different football shirts altogether.
The family was plunged into crisis when Dad Lee was rushed to hospital with a back injury during the middle of Betty-Leigh’s fundraising efforts.
But the tiny tyro kept going despite this.
Lee is now out of hospital and on the mend. ‘It makes us really proud to have her doing something positive in this tough time,’ Faye added. ‘It’s taken our mind off Lee’s medical issues.’