A COATBRIDGE girl has cycled 12K during lockdown and raised a massive four-figure sum for University Hospital Monklands after her Disneyland holiday was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Four-year-old Ava McCann pedalled an impressive 12,000 laps around the streets near her Coatbridge home and raised an amazing £1370 for ward 2 at Monklands hospital.
Little Ava, who attends Sikeside Nursery, decided to do something to cheer up her aunt Donna Marie McGroarty after their Disneyland trip to Florida was cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Donna Marie, a charge nurse in the hospital’s infectious diseases unit, had planned to take Ava and her four-year-old cousin Anna Crielly on a fun-filled trip to the Florida theme park earlier this month, but was forced to cancel due to the pandemic.
Ava’s mum Stephanie McGroarty, who is a nurse in ward 18 at Monklands hospital, told the Advertiser: “I’m so happy and so proud of Ava.
“Her dad Ryan is over the moon. It’s a massive achievement for a four-year-old.
“She only started riding without stabilisers about two weeks after lockdown; she absolutely loves her bike.”
Ava and mum Stephanie wanted to give something back to the nurses, doctors and consultants at the Airdrie hospital for their selfless dedication during the recent pandemic.
Stephanie explained: “I work as a nurse in ward 18 at Monklands. I know how much the girls have had to deal with.
“They have been in the thick of it since the beginning of the outbreak and have been taking it all in their stride.”
Ava and her parents were overwhelmed by the generosity of wellwishers with donations flooding in to her fundraising page, and thank all those who supported her, with a special mention to local businessman Brian Ellis from Coatbridge-based Ellis Decor who raised £250 through a recent bonus ball competition.
And the little girl was thrilled when the nursing staff came out to applaud and congratulate her at the finish line.
