![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Hayley-and-Nicky-scaled-e1781094917488.jpeg\")
Credit: Nicky Kenny and Hayley Duncan<\/p>\nTwo Liverpool gymnastics coaches are about to embark on a 70-mile ultra-marathon in memory of a little girl called Mila who died from cancer.<\/p>\n
Nicky Kenny and Hayley Duncan will tackle \u2018The Wall\u2019, a super-tough challenge which will take them over rugged moorland and hills from Carlisle Castle to Newcastle, from Saturday.<\/p>\n
The endurance route which follows the historic Hadrian\u2019s Wall corridor, is well-known for breaking even the most experienced runners and trekkers and will be a gruelling test for the pair from Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy.<\/p>\n
But they say it will be nothing compared with what Mila, and others like her, have gone through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hayley, 40, said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing how tough it was for her will keep both of us going. Mila had this great sense of humour \u2013 and I know I can\u2019t not finish because I\u2019ll picture her laughing and saying \u2018are you giving up\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mila Facenfield was just six years old when she passed away in July last year after battling leukaemia for more than two years.<\/p>\n
She faced her own tough tests, but they remember her as the bright, funny, cheeky, loving, and full of character little girl who, when she was well, went to Bounce Tots.<\/p>\n
Jay Scouler, director of Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMila brought so much joy into the gym, and everyone who knew her remembers the sparkle she carried with her. Her passing was absolutely heartbreaking, and our love and deepest condolences remain with Mila\u2019s family.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Mila\u2019s funeral, Nicky, 53, and Hayley were deeply moved by the support given to Mila\u2019s family by The Joshua Tree, a charity that supports families of children with cancer.<\/p>\n
So they decided they wanted to do something extraordinary in Mila\u2019s memory and raise money for The Joshua Tree to help other families facing the unimaginable like hers did.<\/p>\n
Credit: Nicky Kenny and Hayley Duncan<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a huge personal challenge for Nicky and Hayley who are both popular coaches at the Gaskill Road Academy in Speke.<\/p>\n
Nicky runs the Bounce Tots pre-school programme and disability trampoline gymnastics sessions, and Hayley coaches gymnastics generally and works with its club squads.<\/p>\n
Between them, they\u2019ve supported hundreds of children and families across the city over the years, and they\u2019ve recently launched a new business, Baby Movement Liverpool, focusing on movement and development for babies.<\/p>\n
Their work has always centred around supporting children and families \u2013 which makes this challenge in memory of Mila for The Joshua Tree even more meaningful.<\/p>\n
Nicky is already a runner, but this distance is far beyond anything she has attempted before. Hayley, remarkably, had never run more than three miles before starting her training.<\/p>\n
Yet, over the last four months they have both trained hard, pushing themselves physically and mentally, and stepping completely outside their comfort zone for the challenge they\u2019re so passionate about.<\/p>\n
Hayley explains:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to do something and so we did Miles for Mila, and went up Moel Famau, but we didn\u2019t raise as much money as we wanted, so we decided to do more. We wanted a real challenge \u2013 and then we saw this race for which we have 26 hours to cover 70 Miles.<\/p>\n
\u201cNicky\u2019s run long distance before but I\u2019d only done 5K \u2013 slowly! So I\u2019ve been building my stamina \u2013 I\u2019ve currently done 35 miles so I\u2019m halfway there \u2013 and we\u2019ve both been training really hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe start at 7am on Saturday and we need to finish by 9am Sunday, so it will be tough, especially going though the night when it will be dark. And the toughest challenge will be tiredness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be mentally tough as much as physically, and so you have to believe you can do it. And we do. We\u2019ll do it for Mila and families like hers. Any struggle will be worth it for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jay says:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a gym, we are incredibly proud of them both. Our club has always been more than just a place to train \u2014 it is a family and a community. This challenge reflects the care, strength, and togetherness that sits at the heart of who we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nicky and Hayley have not set a target, but every donation will help The Joshua Tree continue its vital work supporting families of children with cancer.<\/p>\n
Hayley added:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want to raise as much as possible in memory of Mila.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find out more and donate to Hayley\u2019s fundraiser for The Joshua Tree here<\/a>. Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nGet the latest news around the Liverpool\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n