Joe Wicks has given his backing to a charity fundraising effort by Hitchin Belles FC to help a young girl's courageous struggle against a rare form of cancer.

Fitness coach and author Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, shot to fame during the first lockdown when he launched weekly online exercise sessions back in March 2020 as a way of keeping children fit while schools were shut.

The workouts became massively popular, with one having helped Wicks achieve a Guinness World Record with nearly a million people watching live.

Wicks also used the popularity of classes as an opportunity to raise money for the NHS, with £580,000 donated through his online workouts.

And now, Wicks is been using his platform to boost the Hitchin Belles' fundraising efforts.

Belles' players and coaches will be running and walking to raise much needed funds for brave Hattie Brattan's Rainbow Appeal of Hope, set up by her family.

From Monday, January 18, for four weeks, the Belles will be running 3,430 miles to boost Hattie - with the precise figure relating to the furthest distance between football grounds in Euro 2021, from Azerbajian capital Baku to Bilbao, in the Basque country in northern Spain.

Inspirational Hattie, who lives in Hitchin, has been fighting cancer and would like to say thank you to the NHS and all those who have stepped up to help during her courageous fight.

All money raised will go directly to fund research into kinder and more effective treatments into rhabdomyosarcoma - a rare type of cancer she is fighting that forms in soft tissue which mostly affects children.

Big hearted Body Coach Joe said: "Hello to everyone at Hitchin Belles. I just want to wish you all the best in your challenge when walking and running for Hattie.

"You're all going to be walking and running for a long time so good luck.

"It's an amazing challenge, I hope it all goes well for you all and best of luck for your fundraising. Lots of love."

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Read Hitchin Nub News as we chart the progress of the Hitchin Belles in their bid to boost brave Hattie