The last 18 months have been a struggle for us all during this pandemic.

Covid has meant life has been tough for so many people on so many levels for so many reasons.

But for one inspirational girl in our area the last year and a half has been one she will never forget.

Brave Betty Leigh Allinson quite literally got on her bike to help people during the first lockdown, and has been showing us the way ever since.

After courageous Betty had a family holiday cancelled due to coronavirus gripping the country, she decided she would help raise money for charity.

Trying to stay positive and with her pocket money savings of £7, Betty, then aged five, was determined to ride her bike for a mile a day to boost a local good cause.

Her actions soon went viral after Nub News covered her courageous actions amid such uncertainty and fear.

Betty went on to raise a staggering £32,000 for much-loved local charity, Garden House Hospice Care, the organisation her nanny Jean Allinson works for.

Level-headed Betty and her humble family went on to receive acclaim from so many celebrities and places near and far, including Sir Captain Tom, David Beckham and the England Football Team to name but three.

And it was to Wembley, intrepid Betty went with her family recently to pick up another honour after her seriously impressive fundraising.

For Betty was part of the Lionhearts, a 'squad' of 23 heroes selected by a renowned panel that included Gareth Southgate.

The criteria to join such a select group was to do with individuals up and down the land who saved lives, inspired communities or made a difference to others.

They were then invited to Wembley to receive the acclaim of the 67,000 crowd at halt time during the recent England vs Andorra World Cup qualifier at the national stadium.

The official England Twtter account posted: "An honour to welcome all our Lionhearts to Wembley."

And you can see a clip of Betty in this official Three Lions video here

Proud mum Faye said: "Memories for life - the luckiest little girl ever thanks so much to everyone from the England football team for literally spoiling us and making it so special.

"It was amazing to meet the other Lionhearts - some incredible people!"

Carla Pilsworth from the Hospice praised Betty and her family, saying: "Incredible well done Betty and thank you for everything you and your wonderful family continue to go for Garden House Hospice Care."

While Betty simply afterwards: "Thank you England for the best day."

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Betty's story so far

'Incredible' is the word that the legendary Captain Sir Thomas Moore - or Captain Tom as the world knew him - called five-year-old Betty Leigh-Allinson after she raised more than £32k for charity.

The country's much-loved lockdown hero knew an amazing achievement when he saw one - after he raised more than £30m for good causes.

Not content with being on Good Morning Britain or while appearing with Carol Vorderman at the Pride of Britain launch - or when global icon David Beckham hailed Betty's fundraising efforts - as well as being praised by former England goalkeeper David Seaman in a surprise visit - Betty also won the seal of approval from the late national treasure Captain Tom.

David Beckham hails amazing Betty

Betty-Leigh Allinson, wanted to help the much-loved Garden House Hospice Care, where her grandmother works after learning to ride during lockdown.

The hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients, families and carers facing life limiting illnesses and has a medical team of doctors and nurses.

However, the outbreak of Covid-19 put a huge strain on the budgets of many hospitals, care homes and hospices up and down the land including north Herts, as well as halting the majority of fundraising efforts during lockdown. The Garden House Hospice was no different – which is where Betty came in.

The granddaughter of former 1980s Arsenal attacker Ian Allinson, wore a different football shirt on every ride, come hail, rain or shine - starting of course with the legendary red and white of the north London giants.

Her feats became so renowned even footballer David Beckham praised her incredible fundraising, with the former England and Manchester United star telling her she was: 'So, so amazing.'

Inspirational Betty becomes a national treasure

Big-hearted Betty-Leigh started fundraising back in April 2020 at the height of the frost national lockdown. With £7 in her pocket which she had saved for a family trip to Disneyland, which was cancelled due to coronavirus, she decided to embark on a fund-raising adventure which would change her life and inspire so many people, young and old across the land, including our town of Hitchin and surrounding areas.

Every penny of the money Betty raised went to the Garden House - which had been haemorrhaging around £25,000 a week after the cancellation of charity fundraising events because of Covid.

"I feel really good about the money I've raised for the hospice, even if I was a little bit tired when I finished," big-hearted Betty told Hitchin Nub News.

Since first being written about at Hitchin Nub News and Gooner Fanzine, back at the height of the pandemic, Betty's story has gone viral, featuring on ITV, BBC and Sky as well Australia and America - and everywhere in between!

Her mother, Faye Allinson, told Hitchin Nub News at the time: "I am so proud of Betty. She has worked so hard and has been so determined to raise £32,000 for the hospice," adding, "We would just like to thank each and every single person who has donated.

"We're absolutely humbled at the incredibly generous response from everyone for Betty's efforts."[.I]

Betty, Faye and husband Lee – who is the highly-rated boss of Hendon FC - were hopeful they could hit their initial target of £500, and were stunned to see the total rise daily throughout lockdown.

"Originally Betty was disappointed that her trip to Euro Disney had been cancelled because of the outbreak of coronavirus, but she soon decided to turn it into a positive by saying she wanted to help her 'nanny' and the hospice.

"We set the original target at £500 – from that point it just flew. We're so proud of her."

Football tops from across the UK have been donated by clubs and individuals to Betty-Leigh, who wore a different shirt every day.

Brave Betty, who only learned to ride during lockdown once had five falls in a day, but continued through gritted teeth, determined not to let down her 'nanny' and the hospice.

Every penny of the £32k Betty raised through her efforts cycling 100 miles in total will go directly to the hospice.

Proud mum Faye added: "Betty has been amazing."

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Garden House Hospice Care supports the communities of Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth and the surrounding towns of north Herts as well as villages in Central Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The charity provides personalised and compassionate palliative end of life care for those in need following a diagnosis of a life limiting illness.