Hertfordshire girl on sponsored bike ride gets 'amazing' gift from Beckham

A five-year-old girl from Hertfordshire who has raised thousands for a local hospice has received a special donation from David Beckham.

To raise money for Garden House Hospice, Betty-Leigh Allinson has been cycling for a mile every day from her home in Codicote, near Hitchin. A keen football fan, she has been wearing a different club's top each time. Teams from across the Anglia region and the UK have sent Betty-Leigh shirts, as has footballing legend David Beckham.

Beckham sent a delighted Betty-Leigh a signed Inter Miami FC shirt. The British footballer co-owns the Florida club.

"What an amazing surprise!" Betty-Leigh wrote on her fundraising page. "It doesn’t get much better than this."

Garden House Hospice tweeted that they were "overwhelmed by the support from David Beckham". The organisation provides free specialist hospice care for North Herts, Stevenage, Royston and the surrounding areas.

David Beckham visiting his Inter Milan FC team Credit: PA

Betty-Leigh learnt about the challenges the organisation faces through her grandmother, who works there."They have had to cancel all fundraising events and close the charity shops, meaning they will lose around £25,000 a week," the five-year-old said.

Along with the hospice, Betty-Leigh has been cycling for her grandfather, ex-Arsenal player Ian Allinson.

"He used to be an Arsenal player," Betty-Leigh said. "My favourite Arsenal player now is Dan Ballard."

Along with a shirt from Beckham, Betty-Leigh has donned tops from local clubs, including the following:

  • Royston Town FC

Credit: Faye Allinson

  • Luton Town Ladies FC

Credit: Faye Allinson

  • Cambridge United FC

Credit: Faye Allinson

  • Stevenage FC

Credit: Faye Allinson

Despite racking up the miles, Betty-Leigh is not a seasoned cyclist. "I have just learnt to ride my bike without stabilisers during lockdown," she wrote on her fundraising page. "I have started off my fundraising with the £7 I had saved for Disneyland, as I can't go now."

At the time of writing, the young fundraiser had raised 22 times her initial target of £500.